‘Toxic’ views of Reform UK candidates raise questions about party’s vetting
A Reform UK candidate who called for a “white Britain” and said Keir Starmer should be shot is among a number of contenders fuelling doubts about the party’s claim to have tightened up its vetting,The past comments of Linda McFarlane and other political hopefuls have been unearthed ahead of the 7 May elections, including one who complained about “constant kowtowing to the black community” and others who endorsed the far-right activist Tommy Robinson,Labour is preparing to run a party election broadcast on Friday that will seek to expose some of the “toxic” views of Reform figures, warning viewers in advance of offensive language,While Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, and senior colleagues have insisted the party’s vetting processes are as tough as any other, Reform was under pressure this week over views and positions linked to a fresh batch of candidates identified by the anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate,They included McFarlane, who is Reform’s candidate in the Gateshead ward of Chopwell and Rowlands Gill.
A social media account in her name tweeted “you should all be shot” at accounts used by Starmer and the justice secretary, David Lammy.When would-be Reform candidates were going through vetting, the McFarlane account posted: “These Black people who feel their colour is against them.Maybe it’s because they arent good enough!!!!.These Black people need to get used to the colour of their skin You don’t hear Chinese or other ethnics pull the ‘race card’.Pathetic.
”Of immigrants, the account said, “Let them all drown” and called for a “white Britain” and a parliament with only white MPs.McFarlane was approached for comment.The party was also challenged over allegations that James Grainger, a county councillor in Devon who is up for re-election, had used a YouTube account to make anti-Muslim and pro-Putin comments.When Zia Yusuf stepped down as Reform’s chair last year before making a return, the account said: “So happy to see Zia gone.He was a muslim and definitely against the values and direction of reform.
”The account had disclosed a series of details that matched the age, background and occupation of Grainger, including those declared in his register of interests.Grainger has been approached for comment.A YouTube account in the name of Jason Patchett, Reform’s candidate in Hoveton and the chair of the party’s North Norfolk branch, said in 2022: “Constant kowtowing to the black community is not doing us any favours.It is predominantly that demographic which is causing the issues but we’re frightened to do anything.”The comment was made on a since-deleted YouTube account, which has been archived by Hope Not Hate.
Patchett has been approached for comment,Joe Mulhall, the director of research at Hope Not Hate, said: “Reform UK’s ‘common sense’ vetting procedure which Zia Yusuf had described as ‘the best’ in the country has proven time and time again to be completely inadequate,“After the last general election, Nigel Farage pledged that ‘the bad apples’ would be gone from his party,But with Reform continuing to put so many up for election, the only conclusion is that there is a systematic failure with its vetting,”Reform has been contacted about Grainger and McFarlane as well as a number of other candidates alleged to have made offensive comments.
Labour’s election broadcast will include Farage’s description of the misogynist influencer Andrew Tate as “a very important voice” and Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s comment that “it drives me mad when I see adverts full of Black people”,Others featured in Labour’s broadcast include Aseem Malhotra, a doctor who addressed Reform’s annual conference and repeated claims that members of the royal family had developed cancer as a result of Covid vaccines,The communities secretary, Steve Reed, challenged Farage to throw out 45 Reform candidates who Labour said were on the record for making offensive remarks,Reed said: “The idea that Nigel Farage thinks these candidates pushing vile racism, misogyny and conspiracy theories are suitable, is frankly staggering,”The candidates highlighted by Labour included Alan Stay, a candidate for Reform in the Isle of Wight who shared racist and sexist messages online, including one that repeatedly used an explicitly racist epithet, arguing that it was not a harmful word.
Another candidate, Caroline Panetta, who is standing in the outer London borough of Bexley, retweeted anti-Islam comments, including one saying Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, wanted to turn the city into “Londonstan” where women would be unsafe,The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know,If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods:The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories,Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs,This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.
If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu.Select ‘Secure Messaging’.Our guide at theguardian.com/tips lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each.
Paige Shiver says ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore ‘had complete control over me’
Paige Shiver said former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore “had complete control over me” in an interview set to air Friday on Good Morning America, marking her first public appearance since Moore’s high-profile firing and sentencing, ABC said Thursday.In excerpts released by the network on Thursday, Shiver said Moore controlled “my emotions, my career … and he knew that, and he used it against me”.Shiver, who was Moore’s executive assistant at Michigan, is speaking publicly for the first time since the case that led to Moore’s dismissal in December and his sentencing this month. Moore, then 39, was fired for what the university said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member”, then arrested shortly after following an altercation at Shiver’s apartment.Moore was sentenced on 14 April to 18 months’ probation after resolving charges tied to the incident, according to court records
Patriots back coach Vrabel’s ‘leadership’ as new photos with NFL reporter Russini emerge
The New England Patriots have given their backing to Mike Vrabel as new photos of their head coach and NFL reporter Dianna Russini emerged on Thursday.Russini resigned from her post at the Athletic last week after the New York Post published photos of her and Vrabel embracing and holding hands at an Arizona resort. The pair are married to different people and have said their relationship is platonic. On Wednesday, Vrabel said he will miss day three of the NFL draft on Saturday to undergo counseling in the fallout from the controversy. He made an appearance before Thursday’s draft where he said “my priorities are my family and this football team
‘It has clearly exceeded expectations’: inside Red Bull’s F1 engine factory
Driven hard, driven fast is very much the norm in Formula One, on and off track, but even by the sport’s own standards the development of Red Bull’s in-house engine project has been exceptional. As is what it has delivered.Walking through the gleaming corridors of the team’s bespoke engine manufacturing department at their Milton Keynes headquarters, it is all but impossible to conceive that only four years ago the area where the buildings stand was just empty space peppered with rubble.The decision to build their own engines rather than continuing to buy customer units from other manufacturers ranks among the boldest steps Red Bull have ever undertaken. It is no little feat even for a team who have long revelled in carving their own path in F1
Swiatek leads players’ surprise as WTA head Portia Archer quits after two years
A number of top players on the WTA tour have expressed their surprise at the abrupt decision by its chief executive, Portia Archer, to resign from her role this week after two years at the helm.“I heard literally two minutes ago, so I really don’t know why now and everything,” said Iga Swiatek after winning her first-round match 6-1, 6-2 against Daria Snigur at the Madrid Open. “We always had a good relationship. I felt like she listened to what we had to say and was really open-minded.”An experienced sports executive who previously worked in the NBA’s G League, Archer was appointed CEO of the WTA in June 2024
Warner-Judd reveals mid-race seizure led to depression, deli shifts – and her London Marathon debut
There are sporting comebacks. And then there is Jessica Warner-Judd’s remarkable return from a focal seizure during the 10,000m at the European Championships in 2024.Those of us in Rome that night watched Warner-Judd wander distressingly across the track with 600m to go before collapsing and being carried off and sedated. What we didn’t see was what followed: the trauma therapy, depression and fears she would never run again.But as the 31-year-old prepares to run in the elite field in Sunday’s London Marathon, she wants to lift the lid on what happened to her – and her optimism for what lies ahead
Sportradar’s share price falls after reports claim it had links to hundreds of illegal gambling sites
The betting and data company Sportradar has relationships with hundreds of illegal gambling operators including several that appear to operate in Iran and Russian-occupied Crimea, a new report alleges.A study compiled by the financial analysts Callisto Research claims to have identified more than 270 unlicensed betting companies offering a variety of services including sports betting, virtual gaming and crypto casinos that purport to be products of Sportradar, whose branding and tools are visible on many of their websites. Callisto Research is an activist research firm that has disclosed short selling Sportradar stock after releasing its report.Sportradar AG is listed on the Nasdaq and its share price dropped as much as 30% following the publication of Callisto’s report on Wednesday, before closing the day 23% down on the start of trading.Sportradar makes its money from distribution deals that enable it to both service and police the gambling industry
Keir Starmer was wrong to sack Olly Robbins | Brief letters
Global Counsel, lobbying firm set up by Mandelson, went bust owing £4.5m just before his arrest – as it happened
Mandelson’s lobbying firm Global Counsel went bust owing £4.6m, report says
Olly Robbins refused to give Mandelson vetting summary to Cabinet Office, says Cat Little
Cat Little’s evidence to MPs is destined for civil service textbooks | John Crace
Former Labour MP calls for Starmer to face Commons committee over Mandelson vetting