Reform UK has not responded to our numerous requests for comment
Reform UK has been urged to “urgently suspend” one of their Hull City Council election candidates (stock photo)(Image: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Reform UK has been urged to “urgently suspend” one of its Hull City Council election candidates over a number of social media comments. Concerns have been raised over posts made by Simon Taylor, the party’s candidate for the Sutton ward.
In recent days, a female member of the public contacted Hull Live seeking to draw attention to the @buckyboy12 page on social media platform Threads, under the name of Simon Taylor. Posts on the account included a picture of Mr Taylor meeting the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, ahead of the party’s Connexin Live rally in March, and a post thanking those who had wished him luck ahead of May’s election.
Whilst such posts seem regular for a council hopeful, it is the comments the account had made on others’ posts that led to some raised eyebrows. The account had responded to a number of profiles producing sexualised content. For example, in response to a post stating “I’m young but I can handle any older man”, the account commented “Well look no further” adding “I’m sure we can sort something out lol x.”
Similarly, the account also responded on a post saying “I need a content partner in Hull, who wants to volunteer.” The account commented “I would but I think I’m 2 old lol.” The account also commented on a close-up picture of a woman’s rear, describing the picture as “very peachy lol.”
Mr Taylor has told Hull Live he believes he has ‘done nothing wrong’. The woman who highlighted the account said: “I think people should know who and what type of person they are voting for in the local May elections.” She added the comments are “absolutely disgusting.” After Hull Live sent the posts to Reform UK, seeking a response from the party, the account was swiftly deleted.
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In the days that have followed, a spokesperson from the Liberal Democrats, who run Hull City Council said: “This man thinks he should have a say on how services like child protection and social services are run in Hull. This behaviour is deeply questionable.
“Reform UK must urgently suspend and investigate this candidate in Hull. Does Nigel Farage really want someone like this representing him in Hull?
“Residents in Sutton will rightly expect better from city councillors. Reform UK needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. This behaviour, on top of the shock news that nearly a quarter of Reform candidates don’t even live in Hull is proof that Reform are already letting Hull down and taking local people for granted.”
On the phone, Mr Taylor told Hull Live he believes he has “done nothing wrong” and said the local Reform UK branch agrees with him. He stressed that there is “nothing illegal or racist” on the account and suggested the Liberal Democrats are “clutching at straws” by calling for him to be suspended.
In addition to the posts themselves, we put the Lib Dems‘ statement to Reform UK. The party itself is yet to respond to our numerous requests for comment.
Another Reform candidate also called Simon Taylor is standing for election in North East Lincolnshire, in Humberston and New Waltham. This article does not relate to him.
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