Reform candidate suspended over Jewish group comments

Reform has suspended a mayoral election candidate after his comments following an arson attack on Jewish community ambulances in London.

Chris Parry was suspended "pending investigation" after a series of social media posts on Monday appeared to describe members of Shomrim, a voluntary patrol service, as "cosplayers" in a post which has since been deleted.

He had been selected by Reform to stand in the first Hampshire and Solent mayoral election. Party leader Nigel Farage called the comments "hurtful and wrong".

Parry insisted "the issue was caused by a malign reading" of his attempt to respond to "a tweet criticising Jewish people".

Counter-terror officers are continuing to investigate the arson attack that destroyed four ambulances, run by Hatzola, a Jewish charity ambulance service, on Monday.

Police have previously said the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

Reform confirmed Parry had been suspended from the party, pending an investigation.

Farage said he liked Parry and had known him "for a very long time", but that his comments were "crass, insensitive, hurtful and wrong".

"I haven't got time for this nonsense," he added.

Parry reportedly retweeted a post on X that said: "Can Christian's in Britain set up their own police and patrol certain neighbourhoods?" with a picture of a number of Shomrim vehicles.

He added: "Remember that these cosplayers have no more jurisdiction or legal authority than ordinary citizens."

When he was challenged over the original post, he replied: "My point still stands. They are a community organisation, not a legal entity. It's the same with Islamists on horseback. But if it offends you, I'll remove it."

Following his suspension, Parry said: "I am well-known for being a lifelong, committed, energetic ally of Jewish people.

"The issue was caused by a malign reading of my attempt to respond to a tweet criticising Jewish people.

"I am not prepared to accept any criticism from anti-Zionists and people who wish the Jewish people and Israel ill."

Following Parry's suspension, Liz Jarvis, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh said: "There is no place in public office for those who seek to dehumanise and insult any members of our community in Hampshire."

"... at a time when we are all thinking of the Jewish community after such a disturbing attack, these comments will compound the pain and worry people are already feeling.

Labour's mayoral candidate Lorna Fielker said: "What unites us as communities makes us strong.

"The divisive, frankly racist comments from Chris Parry don't represent the values of our region.

Nick Adams-King, Conservative leader of Hampshire County Council said Parry's remarks were "deeply offensive".

"At a time when Jewish families here and across the country are already feeling vulnerable following the recent antisemitic attacks, comments like these only deepen fear and division."

Parry made the headlines in January after he admitted his comments that suggested David Lammy should "go home" to the Caribbean, were clumsy.

Parry, a former senior Royal Navy officer, was named in December by Reform as its candidate for the mayoral contest.

The mayoral elections were due to take place in May but have been delayed until 2028.