A candidate endorsed by Nigel Farage’s Reform party has been exposed for making racist comments, including referring to white people as “the master race.” Stuart Prior, running in Essex in the upcoming local elections, was found to have made derogatory remarks on social media, such as celebrating the rape of Punjabi and Sikh women, making derogatory comments about black individuals’ intelligence, and labeling Muslims as “rats.”
These inflammatory statements, found on a now-deleted social media account under Prior’s name, were uncovered in a collaborative investigation with the anti-racism organization Hope Not Hate (HnH). When confronted with the evidence at his residence in an Essex village, the 54-year-old denied being racist, dismissing his controversial posts.
Prior, who is contesting for a county council seat in Rayleigh West and Rochford District Council, claimed not to recall making the offensive “master race” remark or the comments about brain size differences among races. He also disassociated himself from the post regarding women being raped. HnH’s director of research, Joe Mulhall, criticized Prior as one of the most extreme and racist Reform candidates identified.
Reform party, aiming for success in Essex where Nigel Farage holds an MP position, has faced criticism for selecting Prior as a candidate, highlighting concerns about the party’s vetting procedures. Prior’s controversial tweets, which include instances of racial insensitivity and derogatory language, add to the scrutiny surrounding the party’s candidate selection process.
In his social media interactions, Prior endorsed disturbing views, such as insinuating superiority of white individuals over black individuals based on brain size and making derogatory remarks about Muslims and immigrants. These revelations regarding Prior’s online behavior have raised questions about Reform’s candidate screening mechanisms and have sparked further debate on the party’s stance on racial issues.
