Chris Parry, who was already under fire for saying David Lammy should ‘go home’ to the Caribbean, questioned the loyalty of eight other politicians from minority ethnic backgrounds
Nigel Farage has been slammed for failing to sanction a senior Reform candidate for a string of “racist and abhorrent” attacks on politicians.
Chris Parry, already under fire for saying David Lammy should “go home to the Caribbean”, also questioned whether eight other figures from minority ethnic backgrounds are primarily loyal to the UK. These included Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, independent MP Zarah Sultana and Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar.
Despite being confronted over Mr Parry’s attack on the Deputy PM, two of Mr Farage’s key lieutenants refused to criticise him this week. Labour chairwoman Anna Turley says the Reform leader’s inaction shows he’s “willing to turn a blind eye to racism”.
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A trawl of Hampshire and the Solent mayoral candidate Mr Parry’s social media feed by The Guardian revealed he said of Ms Mahmood: “Doesn’t her religion require her to show loyalty to her fellow Muslims before any country? Genuine question.”
And he wrote of ex-SNP leader Mr Yousaf: “His first loyalty is not to any country in the UK.” In another attack on Mr Lammy, Mr Parry wrote: “This is what happens when you have someone whose primary loyalty is not to the UK as foreign secretary.”
He also targeted Labour MP Dawn Butler, Scottish equalities minister Kaukab Stewart, and Labour MP Naz Shah. Referring to the latter, who took her parliamentary oath using the Qur’an, he wrote: “That’s OK, if she commits blasphemy by betraying the British people and demonstrating primary loyalty to another country.”
Ms Turley said: “Nigel Farage needed to throw Chris Parry out of Reform UK and drop him as a candidate weeks ago. The fact he didn’t shows he’s willing to turn a blind eye to racism in his party’s senior ranks. It’s falls far below the standards the public expect of political leaders.
“Nigel Farage said Reform UK’s candidate vetting was the highest standard of any party. A basic trawl of his mayoral candidate’s social media could have exposed these racist and abhorrent comments directed at people of colour. The fact Farage has failed to take any action against Chris Parry despite his first racist comments being exposed two weeks ago shows what a weak leader he is. He is dragging his party further into the gutter and is unfit for high office.”
On Tuesday Mr Farage’s number two, Richard Tice, refused to condemn Mr Parry’s attack on London-born Mr Lammy despite having it read to him.
He told a Westminster press conference: “I’m not familiar with what was said. At the end of the day, David Lammy, he’s a Cabinet minister. Whether we think he’s doing a good job or a bad job, is just part of politics. That’s day to day life and he will, I’m sure, continue to claim he’s doing a great job. We challenge him.”
After Mr Parry’s comment was read out to him, Mr Tice declined to respond further, saying only: “I’ve given an answer.”
A day earlier Reform MP Danny Kruger said: “I’m afraid to say without knowing the context of them, without having understood the point that’s being said, I can’t comment in detail, that is one for Nigel and the party leadership to decide.
“But I do recognise that Chris Parry is a distinguished public servant, it’s good to have his support for Reform.” The Mirror has contacted Reform for comment.
In an interview on Talk TV this week, Mr Parry refused to back down. He said: “I’m not going to talk about it. People should go to Twitter and see what was written and the context in which it happened.
“All I’m saying is if you’re the foreign secretary of this country (as Mr Lammy was at the time) your primary loyalty must be to this country.” And when asked if Mr Lammy’s primary loyalty was the UK, Mr Parry responded: “Ask him.”