Nigel Farage has launched an investigation into Mike Manning.
Reform UKâs candidate for the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council by-election has been accused of posting âantisemitic and xenophobicâ remarks on social media site X.
Nigel Farage has launched an investigation into Mike Manning, a former Royal Artillery serviceman, after a series of alleged posts resurfaced.
As recently as November, Mr Manning is alleged to have posted: âJews, Muslims⊠there is something about circumcision that goes to their heads.â
That same month, in a reply, Mr Manning is claimed to have said: âWe already pay the Jizya tax, itâs called Universal Credits. They are all on itâ.
Jizya is a historic Islamic tax levied on non-Muslims, in exchange for protection and allegiance.
He was also criticised for his alleged reply to a post wishing people Happy Kwanzaa, which is a cultural festival celebrated in the US by some African Americans from December 26 to January 1.
The reply was: âAre you having the traditional stuffed Chimpanzee for Kwanzaa dinner?â
Reform UK confirmed last night that a âdisciplinary investigationâ had been launched after an LBC investigation.

Mr Farage said at a press conference earlier this month that his partyâs vetting had been âp*** poorâ.
He told members in Scotland: âSorry itâs crude but itâs been p*** poor in the past and it wonât be in the future.â
Liberal Democrats Deputy Leader Saidy Cooper sent LBC a letter in which she accused the Reform politician of âdirecting sickening insults at Jewish and Muslim communitiesâ.
She demanded Mr Manningâs suspension with immediate effect.
 | House of Commons Handout photo issued by the House of Commons of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions
âThese kinds of racist, antisemitic, xenophobic beliefs have no place in our politicsâ, Ms Cooper said.
âDid you vet Mr Manning? If so, did you believe his awful beliefs were acceptable to you? If not, will you accept that you lied to the British public in promising that your party would research those individuals representing Reform UK in public life?â
She branded his alleged remarks as âunconscionableâ and added âI urge you to suspend him immediately from Reform and make clear these racist views have no place in your partyâ.
The council Mr Manning is running for currently has Labour as its biggest party but it operates under âNo Overall Controlâ.
Last year the party revoked the membership of their council leader in Staffordshire after âbigotedâ social media posts.


