This is Reform UK Ltd

Glenn Gibbins is a newly elected Reform UK councillor for the Hylton Castle ward in Sunderland. He came to national attention after racist social media posts resurfaced in which he allegedly wrote that Nigerians should be “melted down and fill in the potholes.”  

The comments were first highlighted by the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate before and after the local elections. Reports also pointed to other offensive remarks attributed to him, including misogynistic comments aimed at women and female TV presenters.  

Following public backlash, Reform UK Ltd suspended him pending an investigation. Reform deputy leader Richard Tice acknowledged the suspension but accused critics and the media of conducting a “smear” campaign against the party.  

The controversy has become part of a wider debate in UK politics about vetting standards for candidates, extremism, and inflammatory rhetoric in local elections.  

The Glenn Gibbins controversy has drawn attention not just because of the grotesque nature of the remarks, but because it fits into a broader pattern of candidates and activists across parts of the populist hard right making openly racist, anti-Muslim, antisemitic or xenophobic statements and still finding political platforms like Reform UK Ltd.

Glenn Gibbins was suspended by Reform UK Ltd after resurfaced posts allegedly said Nigerians should be “melted down and fill in the potholes.”  

Other figures and candidates who have faced similar accusations include:

• Matt Davis — accused of posting anti-Black and anti-Muslim comments online, including describing Islam as an “evil death cult.”  
• Stephanie Dearden — reportedly posted that Islam should be banned and made inflammatory comments about Muslims.  
• Daniel Devaney — alleged to have written that Muslims should be “blast[ed] … off the face of the earth.”  
• Linda McFarlane — criticised after promoting ideas around a “white Britain” and allegedly endorsing violent rhetoric toward political opponents.  
• Nathaniel Menday — came under scrutiny for historic white supremacist and neo-Nazi imagery online before later apologising.  
• Mark Adderley — criticised over comparisons involving Israel and Nazi Germany.  
• Kamel Hawwash — faced backlash over social media language interpreted as sympathetic to Hamas rhetoric after the October 7 attacks.  

These rhetorics normalises racial hostility and conspiratorial politics. These statements involving ethnic cleansing language, violence, or dehumanisation, such as the remarks attributed to Gibbins, have been condemned but explained by Reform UK Ltd as freedom of speech and seek to contextualise such comments.