Reform Candidate's Controversial Online Posts Exposed
One of Nigel Farage's Reform UK candidates has been exposed for peddling dangerous Covid-19 conspiracy theories and launching extraordinary attacks against the late Queen Elizabeth II, branding her a "fraud" who should be overthrown. Emma Clatworthy, standing as a Senedd candidate for Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales, made the inflammatory comments in Telegram groups during the pandemic.
Anti-Monarchist Rants and Conspiracy Theories
In posts uncovered by Hope Not Hate, Clatworthy wrote: "The Monarch needs to go she's not our Queen never has been she's a fraud, they're all German decent." She referenced Mark Christopher, leader of an "anti-establishment cult" later jailed for a kidnap attempt, claiming he showed how the Queen "swearing to trade off us" rather than represent the people.
Clatworthy also promoted baseless Covid misinformation, stating: "You can't catch a virus its the biggest lie big pharma ever spun." She falsely claimed vaccines could kill people and promoted discredited "germ theory vs terrain theory" arguments, referencing Dr. Sam Bailey - a New Zealand doctor who had her medical registration cancelled for spreading Covid misinformation.
Stark Contrast with Farage's Views
The revelations create a stark contrast with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who previously expressed being "slightly depressed" at Queen Elizabeth II's death and praised her as "the most respected person in the world." Farage has spoken openly about his admiration for the monarchy, making Clatworthy's anti-monarchist positions particularly controversial within the party.
Reform's Ongoing Scandal Problems in Wales
This is not the first scandal to hit Reform UK in Wales. Last month, another candidate stood down after a photo emerged appearing to show him giving a Nazi salute. The pattern of controversial candidates has raised questions about the party's vetting processes.
Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at Hope Not Hate, commented: "Emma Clatworthy has a history of voicing dangerous conspiracy theories online. The fact Reform UK has selected Clatworthy as a Senedd candidate is disappointing but not surprising."
Clatworthy's Response and Background
When confronted by the Mirror, Clatworthy claimed the comments were "from several years ago, during a period where I was exploring a wide range of ideas and discussions online." She added: "I made a conscious decision to step away from those spaces. As a candidate, my priority is to serve people fairly, thoughtfully, and with a focus on real-world outcomes that improve lives."
On her Facebook profile, Clatworthy describes herself as trained in "integrative health and functional medicine" and says she is "developing my work in clinical practice and community health education." Reform UK declined to comment on the revelations about their candidate's controversial online history.
