Hope Not Hate brought attention to tweets by Jonathan Kay containing derogatory comments about Muslims and black people. The organization uncovered posts from Mr. Kay on X, where he suggested that Muslims should be deported because they “never coexist with others.”
They also highlighted a tweet regarding the intelligence of individuals from Africa, in which he mentioned their low IQ and stated that the U.S. Army doesn’t recruit those below an IQ of 85.
UK Candidate (Credits: Sky News)
Mr. Kay’s remarks included, “Africans and sub-Saharan Africans are among the lowest worldwide and below 85, the U.S. Army is not allowed to recruit you. The average African IQ is 75.”
Responding to support X about his treatment by Reform UK, Mr. Kay expressed a desire to speak with Reform before commenting further, praising the people at Reform as decent and moral.
Reform also announced the removal of another candidate, Mick Greenhough, who had made inflammatory statements on social media. Greenhough had tweeted in 2023 that “the only solution” was to “remove the Muslims from our territory” and in 2019 expressed derogatory views about Ashkenazi Jews.
Reform UK Candidate (Credits: The Times)
Hope Not Hate, known for its stance against far-right ideologies, criticized Reform’s vetting process for candidates as inadequate and labeled Kay and Greenhough unfit for public office.
Both individuals were swiftly removed as Reform candidates following the publication of Hope Not Hate’s findings. The party spokesperson emphasized that while they defend freedom of speech, they take prompt action when statements fall below their standards, contrasting their response with that of other parties.
Reform’s decision to remove candidates like Benjamin “Beau” Dade, Ginny Ball, Nick Davies, David Carpin, and Roger Hoe from various constituencies reflects their commitment to addressing controversial remarks made on social media.
Criticism has also been directed at Reform for some of its remaining candidates, including a convicted animal abuser and an individual offering spells for sale on a subscription platform.
