Reform UK has been accused of an \u201cutterly grotesque\u201d failure to \u201ccall out clear racism\u201d after its deputy leader declined to explicitly condemn comments reportedly made by a council candidate that Nigerians should be used to \u201cfill in the pot holes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Glenn Gibbins, who was elected as a Reform councillor in Sunderland in this week\u2019s local elections, in 2024 complained on social media about the \u201camount of Nigerians in town\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!\u201d he wrote in a later-deleted post, according to campaign group Hope Not Hate.<\/p>\n
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice on Sunday refused to directly criticise Mr Gibbins as he accused the media of \u201csmearing\u201d Nigel Farage\u2019s party.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was happy for someone with those views to represent the party, Mr Tice told the BBC\u2019s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: \u201cThis weekend we are celebrating our incredible successes.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike any party, we have internal party processes to look where people have said or done the wrong thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cI condemn everything that is wrong and inappropriate. Voters have heard all of this smearing and this sneering against all of us, and they have voted for more Reform.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy leader of Durham County Council Darren Grimes told the BBC Mr Gibbins had been suspended from the party pending an investigation.<\/p>\n
However, when asked for confirmation, a Reform UK spokesperson told ITV News: “The investigation is still ongoing. No decision has been made yet.”<\/p>\n