One of Nigel Farage’s new Reform councillors claimed not to remember if he TWICE stood for the British National Party.
The Reform leader boasted it was his “golden rule” to prevent BNP activists joining – and has even attacked its “racist agenda”. Now we can reveal how a freshly-elected Reform councillor initially admitted not denying being on the ballot paper for the BNP. David Laing, part of a motorcycle “brotherhood”, was one of dozens of Reform hopefuls victorious in Sunderland as the party ended Labour’s over 50-year city reign. But when we approached him last week over an allegation he ran for the BNP under Nick Griffin, Laing offered a puzzling account.
READ MORE: Reform candidate exposed over sick ‘master race’ bile sweeps to DOUBLE victoryREAD MORE: Reform hopeful blames ‘Nigerian scammers’ for vile racist posts on his Twitter
The 67-year-old suggested a friend got him to stand for the BNP — yet then claimed not to remember if he had. And, in a further twist on Friday, Reform later said Laing “rejected the allegation that he ever stood for the BNP”. We have been probing a claim Laing ran for the BNP when it was led by Nick Griffin, in a joint investigation with anti-racism group Hope Not Hate (HnH).
A BNP candidate named David Laing had two failed bids in Sunderland City Council races in 2006 and 2007, records show. He stood in Washington North in 2006, picking up 299 votes, before getting only 195 backers the following year in Washington East.
An unearthed statement published in the candidate’s name in 2006 in the Sunderland Echo said: “Like most people in Britain today I feel that this Labour Government tends to look after other countries’ people and not its own people.” And in 2007, the candidate said in the paper: “The main concerns are antisocial behaviour, lack of police on the beat and housing problems.” Neither of the profiles carry the candidate’s picture.
But when we last week confronted Reform’s Laing – elected in nearby Hylton Castle ward – over his alleged BNP links, he offered a curious response. Laing is a member of Wyrm Ryders Brotherhood, a motorcycle club whose motto is “England forever English”. We spoke to him outside his home – about 1.5 miles from Washington East ward – which Land Registry documentation shows he has co-owned with his wife since 1990.
Asked whether Reform was aware he was a BNP candidate in 2006 and 2007 when he said he wanted to stand, Laing – clad in a “brotherhood” T-shirt – said: “Well, I was vetted.” Questioned on if he made clear during vetting he had stood for the BNP, the former sales and management worker replied: “To be honest, I couldn’t remember that I had.”
READ MORE: Nigel Farage’s band of ‘racists, rogues and misfits’ expose Reform UK’s hidden truthREAD MORE: Reform candidate’s racist bile calling white people ‘master race’ – ‘One of the worst’
Pressed on whether he thought Reform would have accepted him if the party knew he had stood for the BNP, he said: “Don’t think so, but as I say, I just completely forgot about that. It’s years ago.” Laing, who said his health and memory had not been good, added: “I don’t have extreme views.” Asked if he could recall what made him stand for the BNP, Laing said: “I think it was a friend just asked us… like I say, it’s that long ago, I can’t remember.”
Put to him that the BNP was an extreme party, Laing replied: “I didn’t get involved with them that much, if anything.” Laing then claimed not to remember standing for the party. Pressed on whether he was saying he did not stand for the BNP or that he could not remember, Laing said: “I can’t remember standing… I’m not saying I didn’t stand for them because you’re telling me that I did.”
Asked what he would say to a voter who would be concerned about his alleged association with the BNP, Laing replied: “I don’t have extreme views. Again, don’t get me wrong, a lot of my friends are Black, or Asian, or whatever, and obviously friends’ families.”
READ MORE: Huge blow for Farage as THREE Reform election candidates appear on leaked BNP list
Laing went on to win 1,302 votes in Hylton Castle, with two fellow Reform candidates also being elected in the ward. In campaign literature Laing had told voters: “I’ve been actively involved in community activities and spent many years playing rugby for Wearside RUFC, giving me a strong connection to our local area. I want to see change in Wearside, and believe only Reform can do that.”
Reform said: “David Laing has rejected the allegation that he ever stood for the BNP. There is no evidence to prove otherwise.”