Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, has declined to directly condemn controversial remarks made by newly elected Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins about Nigerians during a televised interview on the BBC programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg.
The controversy followed the resurfacing of deleted social media posts allegedly made by Gibbins after he won a council seat representing Hylton Castle Ward in Sunderland.
According to reports, the councillor had complained online about “the amount of Nigerians in town” and allegedly suggested they should be “melted down” to fill potholes.
Gibbins was also accused of making offensive remarks about women and television presenters, including comments directed at presenters Mel and Sue.
During the interview, Tice repeatedly shifted attention away from the controversy, describing criticism surrounding the posts as part of a political smear campaign.
“We’ve heard all this smearing, but let me tell you what people are really concerned about,” Tice said before redirecting the discussion toward antisemitism and broader political issues.
When pressed further on the remarks, the Reform UK deputy leader said, “If people have said daft things, of course, it will be looked at.”
He later added, “I condemn anything that is wrong and inappropriate.”
Tice maintained that despite the criticism surrounding some of the party’s candidates, voters had continued to support Reform UK during recent local elections.
“The key point is that voters have heard all of this smearing against all of us, and they have voted for more Reform because they want action, they want delivery, and they are sick of the failures of Tory and Labour,” he said.
The controversy comes amid increased scrutiny of several Reform UK councillors over past social media activity.
Another newly elected councillor, Jay Cooper, has also faced backlash over alleged deleted posts in which he reportedly described the Holocaust as a “hoax” and shared conspiracy theories online.
Cooper, who won a seat in Bootle West ward on Sefton Council, allegedly made the comments during discussions related to Adolf Hitler and far-right politics.
The incidents have sparked wider debate over candidate screening and online conduct within Reform UK following the party’s recent electoral gains.