A Reform UK candidate in Blackburn with Darwen’s May 7 local elections has been expelled from the party over his alleged former membership of the British National Party (BNP).
John Black, 55, who was standing in the Little Harwood and Whitebirk ward, is one of three Reform UK candidates nationwide to be expelled following an investigation by anti‑racist campaign group Hope Not Hate and the Daily Mirror.
The other two are David Prior, who is standing in the Gateshead ward of Saltwell, and George Parnell, who is standing in Hampshire in the Fleet Town and Hart (Fleet Central) areas.
All three feature on a leaked list of BNP members and contacts dating from 2007 to 2008.
It is believed the list included party members at the time, former members and individuals who showed an interest in the BNP but did not officially join.
Mr Black told the Mirror that he had never been a BNP member.
Asked to explain why he was named on the leaked list, he said: “I have no idea.”
In an election statement posted by the local Reform branch, he wrote that Great Britain is “on the verge of collapse”.
A Reform UK spokesman told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Mr Parnell, Mr Prior and Mr Black have been expelled from Reform UK after failing to declare their previous memberships of an organisation proscribed by the party.”
Mr Black’s expulsion comes amid a continuing row over ‘offensive’ social media posts by Reform UK’s Blackburn South East local election candidate Andy Mahon.
His now‑deleted Facebook posts included the use of the ‘n’ word, sexist and offensive remarks about Green MP for Gorton and Denton Hannah Spencer, references to former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner’s weight, and homophobic remarks about Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Rossendale and Darwen MP Andy MacNae and Blackburn with Darwen Labour Party Local Government Committee chair Cllr Damian Talbot have both called on Reform UK to suspend him.
Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: “Reform have found a technical reason for expelling John Black.
“They now need to have the courage to get rid of their candidate in Blackburn South East, Andy Mahon, who seems to think that being racist, sexist and offensive on social media are the qualities needed to be a successful local councillor.”
Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of the council’s 4BwD Independent group, said: “How was someone with BNP links ever selected to represent Blackburn residents?
“The BNP stands for division and hate. Our town deserves better.
“Blackburn cannot afford candidates with links to extremism, or parties that only act when they’re caught out.”
Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater said: “Obviously they have done the right thing.
“But when people come to vote, they need to ask who these people are and whether they have been vetted properly by the party.”
The full list of election candidates in the Little Harwood and Whitebirk ward is: John Black (Reform UK), Haroon Khan (Independent), Salim Lorgat (Labour), Emma Macaulay (Conservative), and James Paul Schofield (Green).
The full list of election candidates in the Blackburn South East ward is: Ahmed Abdelrahman (Green), Henry Arnold (Conservative), Andy Mahon (Reform UK), and Jim Shorrock (Labour).
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