Reform investigates candidate for anti-Islam posts

Reform UK is investigating its candidate in the Plymouth City Council elections after he was accused of making a series of Islamophobic and antisemitic posts on social media.

According to an article in The Times, Ben Rowe, candidate for the Ham ward in Plymouth, urged protesters throwing bricks at police defending a mosque to "get rid of that filthy building" during the 2024 Southport riots.

Labour leader of Plymouth City Council Tudor Evans, who represents the Ham ward, said the comments were "utterly reprehensible and have no place in Plymouth".

The leader of Reform UK on Plymouth City Council, Steve Ricketts, said the party was "thoroughly investigating" the matter.

The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, previously said there would be far more vetting of candidates in an attempt to "professionalise" the party.

According to the article in The Times, in a comment beneath a YouTube video in February, Rowe accused "the Jews" of "creating division by forcing other races on our societies" and described immigrants to the UK "breeding like rats".

The BBC has seen posts on Rowe's Facebook account with a blackface meme, images calling on people to 'Free the world of Islam' and pictures of fake shotgun shells loaded with bits of bacon.

Labour leader of Plymouth City Council Tudor Evans, who represents the Ham ward, said the comments were "utterly reprehensible and have no place in Plymouth".

He said: "Encouraging violence against a place of worship, spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories, dehumanising immigrants, and using racist and Islamophobic language is not only deeply offensive, but also dangerous.

"I call upon the leader of Reform on Plymouth City Council, Steven Ricketts, to join me in condemning this candidate and calling for his suspension from his party."

Ricketts said: "My party is thoroughly investigating and this is with the disciplinary team.

"There is a process and that will be followed in this case – I can't comment further than that at this time."

In a public post on his Facebook page on Thursday, which has since been deleted, Rowe said: "This post may be my last. My bike has been vandalised costing me hundreds, I've had things posted, years ago, taken out of context.

"I just want to be a valued, contributing member of society and what better way than to be a councillor for my ward, delivering on issues your tax money goes to?"

He said he feared for his safety and said to those who were backing him: "Thank you all for your support. I will stick this through to the end."

Reform is fielding candidates in all 19 seats being contested in the Plymouth City Council elections.

A full list of all of the candidates for all parties is available here.

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