What Happened: Reform UK Withdraws Support
**Reform UK has publicly withdrawn support for its candidate in the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council by-election after offensive and discriminatory social media posts came to light. (LBC)
- The candidate, Mike Manning, had been selected to contest the Zetland ward seat in a by-election scheduled for 19 February 2026. (LBC)
- An investigation by LBC uncovered racist, antisemitic and xenophobic social media posts from his account on X (formerly Twitter), including derogatory remarks about Jews and Muslims. (LBC)
- Reform UK said the posts were “unacceptable” and that Manning had failed to declare his X account during the vetting process. (LBC)
- The party’s leader, Nigel Farage, described the remarks as “unconscionable” and vowed to improve vetting, saying he was “enormously angry” about the mistake. (LBC)
Manning later posted on Facebook that he was withdrawing his name from the ballot. (LBC)
Case Study: Redcar (Zetland Ward)
Background
- Location: Zetland ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
- The council operates under No Overall Control, with Labour as the largest group. (LBC)
- Reform UK’s campaign in Redcar was part of a wider push to gain local seats across England.
What Went Wrong
- A disciplinary investigation was opened once Reform UK was made aware of the posts. (LBC)
- Posts attributed to Manning included offensive generalisations against groups such as Jewish and Muslim communities and other inflammatory statements. (leftfootforward.org)
- Some posts also included derogatory references to cultural celebrations and praise of extremist rhetoric — compounding concerns about the candidate’s suitability. (leftfootforward.org)
Outcome
- Reform UK withdrew formal support for the candidate but the deadline for replacing him on the ballot had passed, meaning his name may still appear as a candidate even without party backing. (Yahoo News)
- Reform UK’s local branch later suggested that rival parties delayed reporting the posts until after nomination deadlines, arguing it prevented them naming a replacement. Labour and Liberal Democrat representatives called this accusation “nonsense”. (Yahoo News)
Reactions & Comments
Reform UK Leadership
- Nigel Farage publicly expressed anger at the vetting failure, admitting the process had been “piss poor” and demanding improvements for future elections. (LBC)
- Party spokespeople stressed that the posts were not aligned with Reform’s official policies and pledged to enforce stronger candidate checks. (LBC)
Opposition Responses
- Critics including Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said such racist, antisemitic and xenophobic views have “no place in our politics”. (leftfootforward.org)
- Local party rivals rejected claims of conspiracy over reporting timing, highlighting that candidates must meet deadlines and that Reform had time to respond earlier. (Yahoo News)
Wider Context of Party Vetting Issues
This is not Reform UK’s first high-profile candidate gaffe:
- In previous elections, the party has had to drop prospective candidates for offensive or extremist links, which it said highlighted the need to strengthen vetting procedures. (The Guardian)
Why It Matters
1. Impact on Local Election Prospects
- Losing official support can significantly damage a candidate’s credibility, even if they remain on the ballot.
- Reform UK has been campaigning hard in by-elections to build local councillor seats as part of broader electoral strategy.
2. Public Perception & Party Image
- Incidents like this fuel criticism that the party struggles to control the views of people it selects as candidates.
- Both national commentators and rival parties have used this as evidence of weaknesses in Reform UK’s internal processes.
3. Wider Political Debate
- The story feeds into ongoing debates around political vetting, accountability for candidates’ past online rhetoric, and how parties manage controversies in tightly contested local elections.
Summary – Key Points
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Reform UK withdrew support from candidate Mike Manning |
| Where | Zetland Ward, Redcar & Cleveland by-election |
| Why | Offensive racist, antisemitic, xenophobic social media posts uncovered |
| Response | Nigel Farage condemned the posts and apologised for vetting failure |
| Controversy | Claims rival parties delayed reporting — called “nonsense” by others |
| Wider significance | Highlights ongoing challenges for Reform UK in candidate selection and public perception |
Here’s a detailed summary of the Reform UK situation in the Redcar by-election with case studies and public/political commentary — covering what happened, examples from the campaign, reactions and implications for the party’s vetting process and public image:
Case Study 1 — Redcar (Zetland Ward) By-Election Candidate Dropped
What Happened
Reform UK formally withdrew support for its candidate, Mike Manning, in the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council by-election over racist, antisemitic and xenophobic social media posts that surfaced online. (LBC)
- Manning had been selected to stand in the Zetland ward by-election on 19 February 2026. (leftfootforward.org)
- After an investigation triggered by reporting, Reform UK said it found posts unacceptable and that Manning had failed to disclose his social media account in vetting. (LBC)
- The party confirmed that it had opened a disciplinary investigation and publicly withdrew support. (LBC)
However, because electoral nomination deadlines had passed before the withdrawal, his name may still appear on the ballot despite not being supported by Reform. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
Offensive Posts Reported
Social posts attributed to Manning included:
- Derogatory comments about Jewish and Muslim people tied to cultural and religious stereotypes. (leftfootforward.org)
- Mockery of Kwanzaa, a cultural celebration. (leftfootforward.org)
- A comment describing Nazis as “peace-loving”, which was widely condemned. (leftfootforward.org)
In response, Manning apologised and said he had resigned from the party and wished to withdraw his name, though legally it was too late for the party to replace him. (leftfootforward.org)
Case Study 2 — Reform UK’s Vetting Challenges
This isn’t an isolated instance — Reform UK has previously faced similar problems with candidate vetting:
Other Vetting Failures
- Earlier in 2024 and 2025, several Reform candidates were suspended or removed for offensive or problematic online activity. (theguardian.com)
- Posts from these candidates included discriminatory language or links to far-right content that the party struggled to spot before selection. (goodlawproject.org)
These cases highlight ongoing vetting issues within the party as it seeks to rapidly expand its candidate base but sometimes overlooks problematic digital histories.
Political & Public Reaction
Reform UK Leadership Comments
- Reform’s leadership publicly called Manning’s remarks “unacceptable” and acknowledged vetting shortcomings. (LBC)
- Nigel Farage, a prominent figure associated with Reform UK, has on record criticised past vetting lapses and said the party was working to improve candidate review processes to prevent such errors. (LBC)
Opposition Parties
- Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said public insults targeting Jewish and Muslim communities are “abhorrent” and unacceptable in modern politics. (LBC)
- Councillor and Labour representatives locally rejected Reform’s claim that rivals waited until after nomination deadlines to flag the issue — calling it “nonsense” and emphasising they reported the posts as soon as they saw them. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
Commentary & Wider Context
Impact on Reform UK
This episode reflects broader challenges for Reform UK as it seeks to stand hundreds of candidates across elections. Rapid candidate expansion — while politically strategic — appears to have stretched internal vetting processes, leading to reputational risks. (theguardian.com)
Expert Views
Political observers note that vetting controversies can erode public trust in a party’s professionalism and oversight — especially when offensive content surfaces after candidates are announced. This can have electoral consequences in closely contested local elections like Redcar’s.
Opponent Leverage
Opposition parties and commentators often use these incidents to argue that Reform lacks effective internal controls, undermining its broader electoral messaging on competence and change.
What This Means
Here’s how this issue plays out:
For Reform UK:
- Concedes mistakes in candidate vetting that undermined its campaign in Redcar. (LBC)
- Provides reason for the party to strengthen screening processes.
For Other Parties:
- Reinforces narratives about divisive politics and the need for responsible candidate selection. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
For Voters:
- Raises questions about transparency and accountability in candidate selection.
- Can influence local election dynamics if voters distance themselves from controversy.
Summary — Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | Mike Manning, Reform UK candidate in Redcar Zetland ward |
| What | Reform withdrew support after offensive posts were revealed |
| Why | Posts were racist, antisemitic, xenophobic and unacceptable |
| Outcome | Candidate withdrew name; appearance on ballot may still happen |
| Reactions | Reform admits vetting failure; rivals reject conspiracy claims |