Blab Politics
Reform UK Faces Growing Vetting Scrutiny After Local Election Controversies
A month after the May 2026 local elections, Reform UK is scrambling to clean up its image as several newly elected councillors are suspended or expelled over past social‑media posts.
The first high‑profile case involved Nathaniel Menday, who won a seat in Sheffield’s Woodhouse ward. Reports from The Times and The Yorkshire Post revealed that Menday had posted images of swastikas and excerpts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf on a now‑deactivated X account. He later said the posts were “edgy humour” and that he had “flirted with far‑right ideology” but had since rejected it. Reform UK’s spokesperson said Menday was suspended because he had failed to declare the posts and the party does not support such comments. Menday accepted the decision and said he understood the party’s stance.
In Bradford, Daniel Devaney was elected for the Clayton and Fairweather Green ward. After posts calling Muslims “scum” surfaced online, Devaney told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus that he was “in a bad mood” when he made the comments. He subsequently announced he would not stand again, but he had already been elected with 1,387 votes. Reform’s council leader, Stephen Place, said Devaney was no longer a Reform councillor and that the comments were “horrific.” Place has also faced scrutiny after Labour MP Anna Dixon wrote to Reform about his own social‑media activity.
Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, defended the party’s handling of the incidents, saying that the party had “now at that level where we are doing well” and that candidates are made aware that hate‑based views are not welcome. Nigel Farage, who resumed the party’s leadership in June 2024, said the party had previously struggled with vetting but had improved.
The vetting process varies across parties. A former party official said there are no set rules and that a code of conduct could help, but that it might deter potential candidates. The official added that trust is required for candidates to disclose past remarks.
Academic analysis from Associate Professor Jon Dean of Sheffield Hallam University points out that newer parties like Reform and the Greens lack the bureaucratic infrastructure of established local parties. Dean says that with many candidates, volunteer staff may not have the time or resources to review every social‑media account, and that the sheer volume of information makes thorough vetting difficult.
Reform UK currently controls 26 local councils and has 37 councillors in Doncaster. Over the past year, the party has lost three councillors, one of whom was expelled over historical social‑media posts deemed unacceptable. The party’s rapid growth has led to “a weight of information” that makes vetting more challenging.
Other parties have also faced similar controversies. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Conservatives have all had councillors whose past posts have come under scrutiny.
The incidents have prompted calls for clearer vetting guidelines and more robust processes. Reform UK has yet to release a detailed plan, and the party’s leaders have not responded to inquiries about future steps.
The current situation leaves Reform UK with a reduced council presence in some areas and a need to address internal vetting procedures. The party’s leadership has acknowledged past shortcomings and indicated that improvements have been made, but no concrete timeline for further reforms has been announced.
The next local elections in 2027 will test whether Reform UK can maintain its council gains while ensuring candidates meet the party’s stated standards. Until then, the party’s handling of past social‑media controversies remains a focal point for observers of UK local politics.
The first high‑profile case involved Nathaniel Menday, who won a seat in Sheffield’s Woodhouse ward. Reports from The Times and The Yorkshire Post revealed that Menday had posted images of swastikas and excerpts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf on a now‑deactivated X account. He later said the posts were “edgy humour” and that he had “flirted with far‑right ideology” but had since rejected it. Reform UK’s spokesperson said Menday was suspended because he had failed to declare the posts and the party does not support such comments. Menday accepted the decision and said he understood the party’s stance.
In Bradford, Daniel Devaney was elected for the Clayton and Fairweather Green ward. After posts calling Muslims “scum” surfaced online, Devaney told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus that he was “in a bad mood” when he made the comments. He subsequently announced he would not stand again, but he had already been elected with 1,387 votes. Reform’s council leader, Stephen Place, said Devaney was no longer a Reform councillor and that the comments were “horrific.” Place has also faced scrutiny after Labour MP Anna Dixon wrote to Reform about his own social‑media activity.
Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, defended the party’s handling of the incidents, saying that the party had “now at that level where we are doing well” and that candidates are made aware that hate‑based views are not welcome. Nigel Farage, who resumed the party’s leadership in June 2024, said the party had previously struggled with vetting but had improved.
The vetting process varies across parties. A former party official said there are no set rules and that a code of conduct could help, but that it might deter potential candidates. The official added that trust is required for candidates to disclose past remarks.
Academic analysis from Associate Professor Jon Dean of Sheffield Hallam University points out that newer parties like Reform and the Greens lack the bureaucratic infrastructure of established local parties. Dean says that with many candidates, volunteer staff may not have the time or resources to review every social‑media account, and that the sheer volume of information makes thorough vetting difficult.
Reform UK currently controls 26 local councils and has 37 councillors in Doncaster. Over the past year, the party has lost three councillors, one of whom was expelled over historical social‑media posts deemed unacceptable. The party’s rapid growth has led to “a weight of information” that makes vetting more challenging.
Other parties have also faced similar controversies. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Conservatives have all had councillors whose past posts have come under scrutiny.
The incidents have prompted calls for clearer vetting guidelines and more robust processes. Reform UK has yet to release a detailed plan, and the party’s leaders have not responded to inquiries about future steps.
The current situation leaves Reform UK with a reduced council presence in some areas and a need to address internal vetting procedures. The party’s leadership has acknowledged past shortcomings and indicated that improvements have been made, but no concrete timeline for further reforms has been announced.
The next local elections in 2027 will test whether Reform UK can maintain its council gains while ensuring candidates meet the party’s stated standards. Until then, the party’s handling of past social‑media controversies remains a focal point for observers of UK local politics.
