David Lammy calls on Nigel Farage to clean up Reform UK after he was targeted with racist remarks by party candidates, sparking political backlash.
The deputy prime minister has taken offense after Reform's Hampshire mayoral candidate, Chris Parry, ordered him to "go home," where his "loyalties lie" to the Caribbean.
In addition, Mr. Parry, a former rear admiral in the Royal Navy, called four female coworkers "harpies" and predicted that by 2035, there will be a majority of Muslim MPs in Parliament.
Born and raised in North London, Mr. Lammy recently wrote for The Independent about the horrible bigotry he experienced growing up.
Ian Cooper, the council leader for Reform in Staffordshire, said last week that "no foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament" in reference to Mr. Lammy, proving that Mr. Parry's heinous attack was not unique.
He said:
“I experienced [racism] as a young boy growing up in London, where the ugly face of division could be seen on a daily basis. I was terrified when skinheads patrolled our neighbourhoods, spreading their hate on street corners and football terraces. On one occasion, I was just going about my business with my mum and my sister when we were spat on – just for being who we are.”
However, Ian Cooper, the council leader for Reform in Staffordshire, stated last week that "no foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament" in regard to Mr. Lammy, proving that Mr. Parry's heinous attack was not unique.
In a post on X (previously Twitter), the justice secretary boldly declared,
"I will never be cowed by racism."
Although Mr. Cooper has been expelled from Reform, Mr. Parry is still the party's Hampshire candidate.
Chris Large, another Reform council member, has denied supporting a statement that called Mr. Lammy
"just another greedy non thoroughbred."
The controversy started at a time when Mr. Farage was having trouble addressing allegations that he had made racist comments at school fifty years prior.
He was accused of mimicking the hissing sounds of a gas chamber and saying "Hitler was right."
When questioned about the accusations at a recent press conference, Mr. Farage ended up ranting at the BBC over comic Bernard Manning from the 1970s.
However, the deputy prime minister has insisted that Farage purify his party.
Mr Lammy posted:
“As Deputy Prime Minister, I’m focused on delivering for the British people and I tend to ignore the noise.
But in the past week I’ve been sent stories about: A Reform mayoral candidate telling me to ‘go home’ to the Caribbean where he said my ‘loyalties lie’.
A Reform councillor’s TikTok account endorsing a comment calling me a ‘greedy none (sic) thoroughbred.’
A Reform council leader referring to me saying ‘no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament’ - apparently unaware I’m a British citizen born in North London.”
He went on:
“I will never be cowed by racism. But I will call it what it is.
Nigel Farage , you need to clean up your party and stamp out this 1950s-style hate.”
What disciplinary rules does Reform UK have for candidate conduct?
Reform UK's correctional rules for seeker conduct emphasize precluding conduct that bring the party into reproach, with public directors holding broad discretion to suspend, remove, or bar individualities from unborn education.
Candidates must cleave to vetting norms and avoid actions like poor campaigning, discourteous conduct, or online references to trainingpost-election; violations spark examinations by branch boards or public complaints processes, potentially leading to expatriation.
Complaints follow a structured appeal chain climaxing in binding opinions by party registers or boards, covering hate speech, importunity, or reputational detriment; confidentiality is strict, with felonious referrals possible, though enforcement relies on directorial judgment rather than fixed penalties.