Reform UK selects candidate who was previously exposed for anti-Muslim social media posts

Following the resignation of a Reform UK councillor, a by-election will be held on 21 August for the Bentley ward in Doncaster. 

In yet another triumph for Reform’s “common sense” vetting procedure, the party has selected Isaiah-John Reasbeck as its candidate – despite the fact he has previously been exposed for anti-Muslim posts on social media.

When Reasbeck stood for Reform in the May local elections, HOPE not hate revealed that, on 6 August 2024, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Bradford has one of the biggest Muslim populations in Europe it is also one of the biggest shitholes in Europe draw your own conclusions.”

On the same day, Reasbeck responded to someone stating that they’re “not scared of Islam”, by pronouncing that they “should be fucking terrified” of the religion.

This is just the latest example of Reform selecting a candidate who has promoted hateful views online. 

On Thursday, by-elections will be held for the Thames View ward in Barking and Dagenham and the Barnstaple with Westacott ward in North Devon. 

Last week, HOPE not hate pointed out that Reform’s candidate in Thames View, Lewis Holmes, has promoted a slew of far-right content and used offensive slurs on X and the party’s candidate in Barnstaple with Westacott, David Jarvis, is a homophobic conspiracy theorist who has even indulged the notion of a flat earth.

When DevonLive subsequently contacted Reform for comment about its selection of Jarvis, the party took the matter so seriously it… didn’t respond. 

Back in September, Nigel Farage said “bigots” and “extremists” are not welcome in Reform. In that case, why does his party keep putting so many of them up for election?