A senior candidate for Reform UK is facing renewed condemnation and calls for his dismissal after making controversial comments suggesting individuals converting to Christianity should eat pork to prove their sincerity.
'Eat bacon' remarks spark outrage
Dr Chris Parry, the party's mayoral candidate for Hampshire and the Solent, is at the centre of the storm. The former Royal Navy officer wrote on social media platform X in October that "People from other religions should eat bacon for a month to prove their Christian sincerity and credentials."
His comments were made in response to reports about migrants being baptised in hotel bathtubs as part of asylum claims. Dr Parry doubled down on the sentiment in a separate post in November, reiterating that potential converts should be made to eat "bacon and sausages for a month" before being accepted for baptism.
A pattern of controversial statements
The 'bacon' comments are not the only remarks drawing criticism. In another post, Dr Parry shared an image of a microwave reserved for Halal food and replied to a question about what he would put in it with the single word: "Sausages." While some sausages can be Halal, pork is strictly forbidden in Islam.
This incident adds to existing pressure on Dr Parry, who is already under fire for telling Labour's David Lammy he should "go home to the Caribbean." Last week, it also emerged he had questioned the primary loyalty to Britain of eight public figures from minority ethnic backgrounds, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Pressure mounts on Nigel Farage
The controversy has piled significant pressure on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to sack the candidate. Labour Party Chair Anna Turley stated: "These views are completely unacceptable from anyone, let alone from someone standing for public office."
She accused Mr Farage of being "happy for someone with appalling racist and other utterly appalling views to represent Reform UK," noting he had refused to act for over two weeks. Ms Turley concluded that this showed Mr Farage was "completely unfit for office" and that his party represented a "recipe for division."
Candidate defends 'light-hearted' posts
In his defence, Dr Parry said his posts were "light-hearted and not intended as serious suggestions." He stated he was "deeply concerned about the de-Christianisation of our country" and believed asylum claims made on religious grounds needed rigorous verification.
He added: "If woke lefties cannot cope with such banter, I suggest they protect their mental health by staying off social media." Dr Parry also asserted he would always call out public figures he believed were not demonstrating "a primary loyalty to Britain."
Reform UK declined to comment on the ongoing row. The party now faces crucial decisions regarding candidate conduct and discipline as public scrutiny intensifies.
