Former Reform candidate dropped over racist comments doesn’t win seat
An independent candidate – so controversial – that he was disowned by Nigel Farage over racist comments was forecast to win his seat by 99% in the General Election.
The Labour Party managed to hold Barnsley North where the former Reform UK candidate Robert Lomas was projected to succeed, according to the exit polls.
He is accused of saying that Black people should ‘get off [their] lazy arses’ and stop acting ‘like savages’.
Follow Metro.co.uk’s blog for live updates on the General Election 2024
Lomas was one of three hopefuls on Reform UK’s roster dropped within days of the nation heading to the polls.
Brexiteer Farage – who is projected to win his seat in Clacton – had said: ‘I want nothing to do with them.’
Lomas spearheaded with his campaign in Barnsley North, and was expected to win the seat from Labour.
His name still appeared for the party on the ballot papers because it was too late to change them. But he stood as an independent.
Edward Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, and Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford, were the other two candidates dropped by the right-wing populist party.
The decision came amid a row about racism in the party after Channel 4 aired footage filmed undercover that showed Andrew Parker, an activist canvassing for Farage, using the racial slur ‘P***’ to describe the prime minister.
He also described Islam as a ‘disgusting cult’, and saying the army should ‘just shoot’ refugees crossing the Channel.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.