Reform UK backs Coalville North election candidate following racist comment made in 2013
Reform UK has backed a Coalville election candidate despite local Conservatives calling for him to be suspended due to a racist slur he posted on social media 12 years ago.
The candidate for Coalville North at the May 1 County Council elections - Elliott Allman - made the remark on Facebook in 2013.
Two weeks ago, Coalville Nub News reported that Leicestershire Conservatives had said Mr Allman should be suspended ahead of the county elections.
They called on the party to "suspend the member involved while they carry out a full investigation into the apparent widespread racism within their North West Leicestershire branch".
But the BBC website reports that Reform UK said it was confident Mr Allman's views had matured since the post.
In a statement, Reform UK told the BBC: "Mr Allman's comments were made over 12 years ago.
"We are confident that he and his views have matured and changed since."
Both Nub News and the BBC have contacted Mr Allman who has said he will not be responding.
His social media posts show him continuing to campaign for Reform in Coalville.
The BBC said that Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage previously said in September candidates for the 2025 local elections would be 'vetted' following a number of controversies during the General Election.
The five candidates standing in the Coalville North division of Leicestershire County Council in the election on 1 May are, in alphbetical order:
- Elliott Allman - Reform UK
- Amanda Briers - Liberal Democrats
- David Kellock - Green Party
- Rebecca Pawley - Labour
- Craig Smith - Conservative Party
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