Reform campaigners in Clacton

[CassieMaddox]

Channel 4 news gone undercover with Reform campaigners in Clacton (where Farage is standing).
Just shocking. They aren't even pretending to be anything other than BNP in suits at this point.

https://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-undercover-inside-reforms-campaign-evidence-of-homophobia-and-canvassers-racism

it really is They complain others don't integrate with 'our' culture but their culture and mine is very different.

I'm glad i surround myself with good people from all walks of life, from many faiths and nationalities and careers. But the one common culture between us is being tolerant and not being fascist.

I realise I’m expecting NF to make sense, which may be my problem but even the apology is total nonsense. If it’s how ordinary people speak, then why is it something their candidates shouldn’t have said?

Why are they being forced to resign?

the issue is NF does make 'sense' in his own head. He holds those beliefs and see's them as the 'default'. Which we know is not the case.

They all hate so many groups of people it's funny to think about how their lifestyle and very life itself is sustained by the very groups of people they hate. the amount of our healthcare workers being either first gen immigrants or come from them. Same with our politicians. Same with the media they consume. The systems they use to make these comments, hope they're thanking the national treasure Alan Turing and others for their invaluable contributions.

That too. It’s almost as if that’s not how ordinary people speak and they are worried that it will affect their popularity. I’m sure Nige wouldn’t lie.

I bet they don't lose votes.
Yeah, but NF, Brexit Party, UKip, Reform absolutely definitely not racist.

No. But people who intend to vote for them should be challenged on their views. This “ordinary folk” stuff is an old as the hills.

I am delighted to learn that Farage doesn't think I am ordinary.

The thing is, are people really voting for these candidates or is there just swivel eyed determination to stop immigration and small boats? Do people really want a militarised police force and lines of volunteers at Dover taking pot shots at dinghies?

I thought Nigel Garbarge must have been in a dilemma. He had to publicly distance himself from outright racism caught on camera but in doing so will have annoyed his core who were doubtless agreeing with every word these nasty bigoted horrors had said.
I would be so incredibly ashamed if Deform were elected in my constituency. They are currently polling a close third in my area just behind labour but anything is possible.

Manufactured outrage.

The man in the video comes across as an unpleasant racist. He's not a Reform party candidate, he's a volunteer. Not endorsed by them. I also think that while his remarks were awful, they weren't intended to be taken seriously. It's 'look at me making edgy racist jokes and saying things I shouldn't say,' not a legitimate wish to shoot immigrants.

He's a twat. He doesn't represent the party. I'm sure all parties have some volunteers with unsavory opinions that people would be appalled by if they heard. I've seen left-wing activists online make comments about brutally killing all rich people, for instance. If they delivered leaflets for Labour that wouldn't make those 'jokes' the responsibility of the party.

For balance, I think making a fuss over 'white man's tears' Labour candidate is also an attempt at manufacturing outrage.

He does represent the party and is a very fair example.

He was campaigning on behalf of Reform Ltd, and as such does represent the party.

If Reform Ltd campaigners haven't been well enough briefed as to what to say and do, then that is entirely the responsibility of Reform Ltd.

I think since the brexit vote, a lot of them are not so embarrassed anymore and are very open with their views. including on mumsnet

The true face of Reform: racist, xenophobic, hate-fuelled people.

Good on Channel 4 for exposing this while the mainstream media seemed to be only too happy to give Reform and Farage endless air time, compared to the attention they pay to the Greens or the Lib Dem.

But the reality is that this is exactly why some people support Farage: they are equally racist/xenophobic.

Farage can try to dress up Reform as something else but when it comes down to it this is the reason why people would vote for it.

Nasty little man and nasty little 'party'...

OK and what about all the reform candidates with their racist, Hitler loving, women hating tweets/comments?

But they do seem to get offended when one points out that they are being racist, as Farage seems to be in this case.

No, this is wrong.

It wasn't just Andrew Parker in the video, it was also George Jones who has held a long term position in Reform and is an event organiser for Farage. This is not a case of someone showing up to volunteer and turning out to be racist; Parker was talking to someone embedded with Reform who did not challenge his views or language but in fact contributed his own homophobic comments and a vow that police under a Reform government would be paramilitaries.

On what grounds can you draw the conclusion that these comments were jokes? Whether they have a serious desire to shoot asylum seekers and the residents of Bradford or not, they were expressing serious racial hatred.

Labour activists are not canvassing on an 'eat the rich' platform; Reform activists are going door to door using racial slurs and talking about killing people of colour - by shooting them in cold blood or by denying them medical treatment. There was true, genuine hatred of Muslims, immigrants and gay people in their comments. And they are not alone in Reform - candidate after candidate is being exposed as having links to the BNP or supporting Hitler. Racism is a huge and significant problem throughout the company. It's baked in. There is nothing manufactured in being outraged by that.

He's on the campaign trail for Reform. Of course he represents the party. Just as all the other bigots who've been forced to resign have sought to represent the party.

yy vent. Our local Reform candidate has been taken off the ballot sheet as they've been exposed as former BNP. I've been watching the fall out on the facebook page, their intended voters are all as thick as two short planks and racist. Fascinating watching it unfold.

What are their objections? Free speech?

Why is it shocking? This is exactly what I’d expect from the ignoramus twats of Reform. Their supporters will probably be even keener now.

Mr Parker is an interesting element in this, he is apparently a well spoken actor who specialises in "cockney accents" and "secret filming", has an IMDB page and is a member of equity. He appears not to be a suit and glasses with slicked back hair chap normally (odd attire for a roasting day)

There is no doubt he was playing a role here, at least in part, and it seems incredible that C4 or him would meet up by happenstance, so the question is what is his agenda, and who, if anyone is behind him.

Were C4 scammed by someone? Was he acting alone, and is in fact a leftie luvvie infiltrating to make a point in a sort spoof persona? Did another party pay him? There are so many questions raised by this - it does seem someone has been pulling strings somewhere!

While i share Rishi Sunak's anger and his sentiments that racism and language such as this should never be tolerated (being mixed race i have had it myself), he & his Tory party have enabled Farage and his supporters in first place.

The Tories including Rishi Sunak and his Home secretaries like Priti Patel & Suella Braverman, have spent the last 5 years demonizing immigrants just to appease right wing of party.

They have been so desperate to hang onto their extreme right wing voters and appease right of Tory party that have emboldened the likes of Farage and others.

This is one of main reasons i am desperate for them to be removed from power as they have stoked up a hornet's nest in an attempt to appease right wing and cling onto power.

I can't believe anyone is actually falling for such a ridiculous lie. This absurd conspiracy theory is being parroted on MN as though posters here are that stupid.

This guy has a tiny acting history - a non speaking part in an advert somewhere in his past. His job is property manager. And guess what, actors and property managers alike can be vicious racists - Reform should know that better than anyone given Lawrence Fox's involvement.

Channel 4 have a superb record of investigative journalism - no, they haven't been duped and no, they aren't 'in on it too'.

Parker isn't the only person in the footage spewing out his revolting hate speech - Reform can't find a way to disassociate themselves from George Jones whom the conspiracy theorists are ignoring. He's an established member of Reform and is on camera making homophobic and racist comments.

Multiple candidates and Reform members have been discovered to have made numerous racist comments and/or to have links to the BNP.

Reform are a racist movement, run by racists with a racist agenda. It's not surprising that racists sign up to be their activists and say racist things.