Reform UK’s candidate for the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council by-election has been accused of posting “antisemitic and xenophobic” remarks on social media site X.
Nigel Farage has launched an investigation into Mike Manning, a former Royal Artillery serviceman, after a series of alleged posts resurfaced.
As recently as November, Mr Manning is alleged to have posted: “Jews, Muslims… there is something about circumcision that goes to their heads.”
That same month, in a reply, Mr Manning is claimed to have said: “We already pay the Jizya tax, it’s called Universal Credits. They are all on it”.
Jizya is a historic Islamic tax levied on non-Muslims, in exchange for protection and allegiance.
He was also criticised for his alleged reply to a post wishing people Happy Kwanzaa, which is a cultural festival celebrated in the US by some African Americans from December 26 to January 1.
The reply was: “Are you having the traditional stuffed Chimpanzee for Kwanzaa dinner?”
Reform UK confirmed last night that a ‘disciplinary investigation’ had been launched after an LBC investigation.
Mike Manning's social media activity is being investigated
|FACEBOOK / REFORM UK REDCAR BRANCH
Mr Farage said at a press conference earlier this month that his party’s vetting had been “p*** poor”.
He told members in Scotland: “Sorry it’s crude but it’s been p*** poor in the past and it won’t be in the future.”
Liberal Democrats Deputy Leader Saidy Cooper sent LBC a letter in which she accused the Reform politician of “directing sickening insults at Jewish and Muslim communities”.
She demanded Mr Manning’s suspension with immediate effect.
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Nigel Farage has vowed to improve Reform UK's vetting standards
| House of Commons Handout photo issued by the House of Commons of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during Prime Minister's Questions“These kinds of racist, antisemitic, xenophobic beliefs have no place in our politics”, Ms Cooper said.
“Did you vet Mr Manning? If so, did you believe his awful beliefs were acceptable to you? If not, will you accept that you lied to the British public in promising that your party would research those individuals representing Reform UK in public life?”
She branded his alleged remarks as “unconscionable” and added “I urge you to suspend him immediately from Reform and make clear these racist views have no place in your party”.
The council Mr Manning is running for currently has Labour as its biggest party but it operates under ‘No Overall Control’.
Mr Farage has previously come under scrutiny over vetting-related issues with the party’s councillors.
Last year the party revoked the membership of their council leader in Staffordshire after ‘bigoted’ social media posts.
GB News has contacted Reform UK for comment.