Reform UK has suspended a newly announced election candidate less than a day after presenting him to the public.
The party confirmed it had taken action against Stuart Niven following allegations that he transferred thousands of pounds from a taxpayer-backed Covid loan into his personal account.
Niven, who is also barred from serving as a company director until 2033, had only just been introduced as one of Reform’s candidates for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.
Reform UK Launch Overshadowed By Candidate Controversy
The announcement came during a campaign event on Thursday attended by Nigel Farage and Lord Offord, where the party also unveiled its Scottish election manifesto.
A spokesperson for Reform UK Scotland said: “We take allegations like this very seriously, and a full investigation is underway.”
The swift suspension has cast a shadow over the party’s campaign launch in Scotland.
Additional Candidate Claims Add Pressure On Reform UK
The situation has been compounded by separate reports involving other Reform candidates. One candidate in Fife allegedly claimed that former SNP first minister Humza Yousaf was “not British”.
Meanwhile, the party’s candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries, Senga Beresford, has previously expressed support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Scottish Labour Criticism Intensifies Over Reform UK Scandals
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar criticised Reform UK’s campaign, stating: “Reform Scotland’s campaign has immediately been exposed as the farce that it is.
“From the dodgy dealings of a Covid scammer to the divisive tweets of obsessive racists, these scandals show Reform are just taking whoever they can get.
“Reform is treating Scots with contempt by asking them to vote for this hopeless gaggle of Tory rejects and odd balls, and I have no doubt Scotland will send them packing.
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“The spineless Lord Offord has only suspended one candidate and effectively given the green light to the fringe views of the rest of these candidates.”
The developments mark a turbulent start to Reform UK’s Scottish election campaign, with scrutiny intensifying over its candidate selection process.
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