Reform UK candidate resigns, joins Tories, condemns party's 'racist, misogynistic' culture

A second Reform UK candidate has resigned from the hard-right party, claiming that most of its general election candidates are “racist, misogynistic, and bigoted.”

A statement was released by Georgie David, the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, via the Conservatives, the party she is currently supporting.

According to David, the party's leadership had failed to address issues of racism and bigotry among its ranks, leaving her "significantly frustrated and dismayed."

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“I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist. As the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for,” she said.

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Her resignation follows Derbyshire candidate representing the Erewash constituency Liam Booth-Isherwood's decision to back the Conservatives, citing his growing disillusionment with the actions and conduct of others in the Reform party.

Reform UK stated it was "very disappointed" by David's conduct.

“We strongly disagree with her sweeping comments about the ‘vast majority’ of our 600-plus candidates, the vast majority of whom she can never even have met," Reform UK statement said.

“And we find it sad and strange that she chose not to bring up any of her concerns with the party leadership before publicly trashing so many of her blameless colleagues who are giving their all to get Reform UK elected,” it added.

"After The Times reported that the party's candidate in the Orkney and Shetland constituency had insulted several well-known women on social media, the party has also come under criticism."

(With inputs from agencies)