Reform UK Gorton and Denton By Election campaigner suspended over social posts
An interim Reform UK campaign manager, Adam Mitula, has confirmed he is suspended as the party investigates racist and antisemitic comments he made on social media while campaigning ahead of Thursday's Gorton and Denton by election. The suspension has landed in the middle of a contest with more than 76, 000 potential voters across Denton in Tameside and Gorton, Levenshulme and Burnage in Manchester.
By Election: Mitula confirmed suspension after days of party silence
For several days Reform UK would not say whether Adam Mitula, who was acting as an interim campaign manager in the Tameside area, had been suspended. Mitula confirmed his suspension on Monday, saying he was a Reform member pending investigation.
Published evidence cited racial slur, derogatory remark about Jewish women and Holocaust denial agreement
Evidence published appeared to show Mitula used a highly offensive racial slur aimed at black people and made what appeared to be a derogatory remark about Jewish women. The material also suggested he had agreed with a Holocaust denier that the number of Jewish people murdered by the Nazis had been exaggerated.
Allegations traced to Hope Not Hate research and a deleted social account
The allegations were based on information gathered by the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, apparently drawn from Mitula's social media account, which he has since deleted. Mitula has said his comments have been taken out of context and has claimed he was defending the Jewish community.
Mitula's public statements and the party's response
Mitula issued a statement saying: "I'm confirming my suspension as a Reform member pending investigation. The comments in question were taken out of context, and actually defended the Jewish community. " He later declined to discuss the racial slur, saying he had "no comment" to make on that particular post. Reform UK responded: "With regard to Adam Mitula, our disciplinary process is confidential and we do not provide a running commentary on any potential cases that are being considered. "
Electorate size, candidate listings and wider local developments flagged alongside the story
There are more than 76, 000 potential voters in the Gorton and Denton by election, spread across Denton in Tameside, and Gorton, Levenshulme and Burnage in Manchester. A full list of the candidates and their minute manifestos can be found here. The original piece invited readers to listen to local radio and follow the Manchester team on social platforms, and offered a contact number for story ideas, 0808 100 2230.
Other council and regional notes included in the same coverage
Alongside the Mitula story, the coverage noted that two councillors at Uttlesford District Council are joining Reform UK. Lancashire County Council's deputy leader said he did not see a text calling for an MP to "be shot". Carl Edwards said he had watched "promise after promise broken" by his former party. The piece also said Coventry and Warwickshire residents will not get a maximum bill rise, but that the rise will be above inflation, and flagged concerns that the anonymity of crypto could be used to get round rules on foreign donations.
