Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn came under significant criticism after he objected to the mural’s removal.
He would later apologise, claiming that he “did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and antisemitic”.
Nigel Farage, now Reform UK leader, was one of those who criticised Corbyn’s failure to spot the antisemitic tropes in the mural. In 2018, while a presenter on radio station LBC, he said the image was “so blatantly anti-Jewish”.
He went on to say that, as then-Ukip leader, he was treated more severely than Corbyn was, adding: “We were accused of all sorts of things, but mercifully, many couldn't provide the evidence.
“If I found anybody in Ukip who had been a member of an extreme group or organisation, we expelled them immediately.
“Corbyn's apologised for what he called ‘pockets’ of antisemitism that exist within the Labour Party - goodness me if I ever said that I would have been completely and utterly finished.”
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Tye shared a number of other questionable posts, including one claiming: “We are getting exterminated. We are the carbon the governments of the world want to reduce.”
In another, he questioned the effectiveness of masks in halting the spread of Covid-19, saying: “Those masks don’t work, wake up sheeple.”
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Despite claims by the party’s leadership of a robust vetting of candidates, other candidates by the party have also been found to share offensive content.
Steve Egan, a Reform candidate in Knowle ward in Solihull in the West Midlands, shared an image on social media in which the “Rothschilds” and “Zionists” – along with the Vatican, royal family, and Freemasons – were depicted as pulling the strings of world leaders.
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In another, Egan speculated that King Charles may have secretly converted to Islam.
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He said on Facebook: “Got a hell of a question for you all. What's everyone's thoughts that King Charles could have converted to Islam?
“If so, is this the end of the monarchy as that means the CofE church [Church of England] has lost its head states person (sic).”
Commenting on the revelations, a Labour Party spokesperson urged Farage to take robust action against his candidates.
“It’s truly astounding that Reform is standing these crackpot conspiracy theorists peddling disgusting antisemitism,” they told the JC.
“Nigel Farage should urgently act. He must withdraw his party’s support for these candidates and make clear that these views are abhorrent.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK told the JC that “the party is looking into these allegations”.
Axel Tye and Steve Egan have been contacted for comment.
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