A senior candidate from Reform UK is facing new backlash for making controversial remarks suggesting that individuals of non-Christian faiths should consume “bacon” as a way to demonstrate their commitment to Christianity. Chris Parry, who is running as the party’s mayoral candidate for Hampshire and the Solent, referenced an article highlighting concerns about migrants undergoing baptisms in hotel bathtubs to secure asylum.
In a post made in October, Dr. Parry suggested that people from different religious backgrounds should partake in eating bacon for a month to showcase their Christian faith and authenticity. Additionally, he shared an image of a microwave labeled for “Halaal food only” and commented that it should be used for sausages, which are permissible under Islamic dietary laws, although pork is prohibited.
Furthermore, in a separate post the following month, Dr. Parry, a former high-ranking Royal Navy officer, reiterated his proposal for individuals converting to Christianity to consume pork for a month. He referenced a story involving the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, discussing churches baptizing asylum seekers and addressing concerns about potential exploitation of the system by migrants adopting Christianity.
The situation has escalated pressure on Nigel Farage to remove Dr. Parry from his position, especially after previous controversial remarks made by Dr. Parry about David Lammy. Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party, condemned the comments, labeling them as unacceptable for someone seeking public office.
Reform UK has refrained from providing a comment on the matter. This incident comes after Dr. Parry questioned the loyalty of eight public figures from minority ethnic backgrounds to the UK. Dr. Parry defended his statements, stating that his posts were meant to be light-hearted and not taken seriously, emphasizing the need for thorough verification of asylum claims based on religious grounds.
In response to criticisms, Dr. Parry reiterated his stance on questioning the loyalty of public figures to Britain, regardless of their background or beliefs. The party, Reform UK, has chosen not to issue a response to the recent developments.
