Nigel Farage is facing yet more pressure to sack a Reform mayoral candidate after he doubled down on his attacks over David Lammy.
Dr Chris Parry, former Royal Navy rear admiral, has been put forward by the party to be the next mayor of Hampshire and the Solent.
However, he has caused a storm in recent weeks after it was revealed that he had suggested deputy prime minister Lammy – born and raised in London – should “go home” to the Caribbean on social media.
Responding to a news story about government talks over slavery reparations in February – a claim ministers have since rejected – Parry wrote on social media: “Lammy must go home to the Caribbean where his loyalty lies.”
Despite the recent backlash, Parry has stood by his remark.
Replying to another post on X about his original comment, he wrote: “Well, home is where the heart is. That’s the point.”
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
Reform MP Danny Kruger tried to defend Parry at a press conference last week, saying he is a “very distinguished public servant” and suggesting his remarks may have been taken out of context.
The Guardian has since published a list of other offensive posts made by Parry on X in the last seven months, suggesting at least eight other politicians from minority ethnic backgrounds do not have a primary loyalty to the UK.
According to the Independent, Parry appeared to describe former Tory politician Enoch Powell, famous for his anti-Black migrants speech – Rivers of Blood – from 1968 as “unfulfilled” in a later tweet.
The mayoral candidate has also previously criticised comic Lenny Henry, after he called for the UK to pay £19 trillion in slavery reparations.
Parry wrote: “Where does his primary loyalty lie?”
Labour chair Anna Turley has called for Farage to sack Parry amid this growing scandal.
She said: “How big does the mountain of racist and grossly offensive comments Chris Parry has made have to get before Nigel Farage throws him out of Reform? It’s disgraceful.
“Farage’s refusal to take action against racism in his party shows what a dark place he’s dragging politics to.
“He should finally drop Chris Parry as a candidate, kick him out of his party, and apologise for failing to take action sooner.”