Nigel Farage is facing intense political pressure to suspend a Reform UK council candidate following the emergence of what critics describe as "sickening" and "racist" social media posts. The controversy centres on Mike Manning, Reform's candidate for Redcar, whose online comments have sparked outrage and demands for immediate disciplinary action.
Offensive Posts Target Religious Communities
Mr Manning, a former Royal Artillery serviceman, posted content that mocked both Jewish and Muslim communities, including a statement suggesting "there is something about circumcision that goes to their heads." Further examination of his social media activity revealed additional offensive material, including repeated references to "traditional stuffed chimpanzee" in comments on posts celebrating Kwanzaa, the festival honouring African-American heritage and culture.
Cross-Party Condemnation and Calls for Action
The revelations have prompted strong reactions from across the political spectrum. Labour Party Chair and MP for Redcar, Anna Turley, has publicly demanded that Mr Manning be dropped as a candidate. "The deluge of Reform politicians spouting vile racism and bigotry deepens by the day," she stated, highlighting previous controversies involving Reform representatives.
Ms Turley directly challenged Mr Farage, saying: "Farage must finally get a backbone and act against this sickening language. He must immediately suspend Mike Manning, and his party's campaign in Zetland ward, and make clear that Mr Manning is no longer a Reform UK candidate, to show he does not endorse these grim remarks."
Liberal Democrats Escalate Pressure
The Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper, has formally written to the Reform UK leader demanding Mr Manning's expulsion from the party. In her letter, she described the candidate's remarks as "unconscionable" and questioned the party's vetting processes.
"Did you vet Mr Manning? If so, did you decide his awful beliefs were acceptable to you? If not, will you accept that you lied to the British public in promising that your party would research those individuals representing Reform UK in public life?" Ms Cooper wrote, adding that "these kinds of racist, antisemitic, xenophobic beliefs have no place in our politics."
Electoral Context and Previous Precedent
Mr Manning is standing in the Zetland ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, where Labour currently holds the most seats but the council operates without overall control. This incident follows a similar controversy last year when Reform UK revoked the membership of their council leader in Staffordshire following "bigoted" social media posts.
At a recent press conference, Nigel Farage admitted that Reform UK's candidate vetting had been "p**s poor," acknowledging systemic problems within the party's selection processes. Reform UK has now initiated a disciplinary investigation after being made aware of Mr Manning's offensive posts, though the party has not yet commented publicly on the specific allegations.
