Three Reform UK Candidates Appear On Leaked BNP List 

HOPE not hate can reveal that three of Reform’s candidates were once affiliated with the British National Party

A joint investigation by HOPE not hate and the Daily Mirror has found that three Reform UK candidates were once affiliated with the fascist British National Party (BNP).

While now a shadow of its former self, the BNP was once Britain’s largest and most successful far-right party. Formed in 1982, the party was most successful under the leadership of Nick Griffin, but went into sharp decline following the 2010 general election. While it limps on, it is standing no candidates at the forthcoming elections. 

The BNP’s membership peaked at 14,500 and since its collapse, activists and members have gravitated towards a range of radical and far right parties. Unsurprisingly, some have washed up in Reform UK, including as candidates. 

HOPE not hate can reveal that Reform candidates David Prior, standing in the Gateshead ward of Saltwell, George Parnell, standing in Hampshire (Fleet Town) and Hart (Fleet Central) and John Black standing in Blackburn with Darwen (Little Harwood & Whitebirk) all appear on a leaked list of BNP members and contacts from 2007-2008. It is believed that the list included members at the time, former members and individuals who showed interest in the party but did not officially join.

When approached by the Mirror for comment, Reform UK confirmed that all three candidates have now been expelled from the party. 

David Prior

David Prior, standing in the Gateshead ward of Saltwell has now been dropped by Reform, after rumours had been circulating and as we were about to expose some of the comments he had made on social media referring to a “fag”, a “chink” and a “jap”  He is still a candidate in the election, and on May 7th he is asking for your vote.

In 2012, in response to a comment about a Gateshead gym he said, “are Jews classed as immigrants? If they are it will be full of them.”

George Martin Parnell

George Martin Parnell is standing in Hampshire (Fleet Town) and Hart (Fleet Central). 

In a statement to voters Parnell says that he works in the technology sector “managing risk in critical environments.” Companies House shows records of four companies where George Martin Parnell was a director – one of which registered the same address as that in the BNP membership list – but all four are now dissolved.

John Black

John Black is a candidate in the Blackburn with Darwen election (Little Harwood & Whitebirk). 

In an election statement posted by the local Reform branch Black wrote that Great Britain is “on the verge of collapse.” 

Questions for Reform

Reform leaders said as far back as October 2025 that they had vetted 4,000 candidates and that their vetting procedures were “the best” in the country, and the party has always been quick to push back against being labeled ‘far right’ yet recent weeks have once again shown the party is still riddled with extremists.

These new revelations will be particularly embarrassing for Reform as, despite Nigel Farage saying that former BNP activists are not welcome in his party, this exact issue has come up before. In 2019, Reform’s predecessor the Brexit Party had to expel their North West campaign coordinator after it was revealed that he had been a BNP member, and in 2024 the rebadged party had to drop their General Election candidate Raymond Saint from the Basingstoke seat for the same reason.

Their decision to quickly expel these three candidates is welcome but it makes their refusal to do the same to the other candidates HOPE not hate have exposed for vile bigotry in recent weeks all the more questionable. 

SUPPORT OUR RESEARCH

With elections days away, our research team is working around the clock to expose the candidates Reform doesn’t want voters to see. Every donation helps us keep digging, keep naming names, and keep the pressure on.

CHIP IN