A candidate affiliated with the Reform party, who had a meeting with King Charles, has been revealed to have made several inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks. Daniel Devaney, a contender in the local elections representing Nigel Farage’s party, expressed strong sentiments about eradicating Islam followers. The aspiring Bradford council member, a supporter of Enoch Powell, also derogatorily referred to Muslims as “scum.” Retired at 70, Devaney, a former employee of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI), was previously photographed alongside then-Prince Charles on HMS Invincible. When contacted by the Mirror regarding his Facebook posts, Devaney acknowledged that his comments were inappropriate.
The Reform party, led by Farage, has faced challenges with candidates, prompting the leader to defend the party’s vetting process recently. However, evidence uncovered by the anti-racism organization Hope Not Hate (HnH) indicates that party officials may have neglected proper screening of Devaney. Harry Shukman, a senior researcher at HnH, highlighted that Reform has exhibited a pattern of embracing anti-Muslim candidates, including Devaney, which is unacceptable in political discourse.
A scrutiny of Devaney’s Facebook activity revealed his derogatory remarks towards Keir Starmer, immigrants, and Muslims. These posts included calls for civil unrest and discriminatory jokes aimed at Muslims. Devaney also expressed admiration for Enoch Powell, a controversial figure known for his racially charged rhetoric. In response to the revelations, Devaney expressed regret for his statements, attributing them to emotional outbursts and a desire to provoke reactions rather than genuine beliefs.
Devaney, currently a candidate for district councillor in Bradford under the Reform banner, emphasized that he is not racist and aims to contribute positively to his community. The party stated that it is investigating the allegations against Devaney.
These developments follow recent reports of other Reform candidates engaging in conspiracy theories and making controversial remarks, underscoring ongoing concerns about the party’s candidate selection process.
