Reform UK withdraws support for MP candidate whose name appeared on leaked list of BNP members
Reform have dropped support for a candidate who used to be a member of the far-right British National Party (BNP), the Mail can reveal.
Raymond Saint, who will still appear on the ballot paper in the Basingstoke constituency, was named in a leaked list of BNP members in 2009.
Reform have now accused the former plumber of failing to declare his membership of the organisation during the candidate selection process.
A party spokesman said: 'As Nigel Farage has repeatedly made plain, people who belong or used to belong to the BNP are not welcome in the Reform UK party.
'Every candidate was asked to declare their past or present political affiliations and was specifically asked whether they had ever been a member of the BNP.
![Raymond Saint was named in a leaked list of BNP members in 2009 and has now been dropped by Reform](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/16/86651621-13576673-image-a-3_1719501992186.jpg)
Raymond Saint was named in a leaked list of BNP members in 2009 and has now been dropped by Reform
![Reform has since removed its support for the MP candidate, who will still appear on the ballot paper in the Basingstoke constituency](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/16/86651109-13576673-image-a-4_1719501996041.jpg)
Reform has since removed its support for the MP candidate, who will still appear on the ballot paper in the Basingstoke constituency
'Mr Saint failed to do so and clearly lied to us.'
The seat is currently held by former Cabinet Minister Dame Maria Miller, who has held the seat since 2005 and won it in 2019 by a 14,198 majority.
However, a recent MRP poll showed the Tory lagging behind Labour by 14 points, while Reform were on 11 per cent in the seat.
On the Basingstoke Reform website, Mr Saint said he used to always vote for the Conservatives but was now 'politically homeless' as the party had 'completely lost its way'.
He added: 'This is the reason I decided to join the Reform Party, in the hope that together we can try to bring the country back to some kind of normality.'
Mr Saint was also accused of being the only candidate not to turn up to a hustings organised by a Hindu community group.
A local source said: 'Basingstoke is a very diverse town with Communities from all backgrounds live in harmony. We recently held 'Hindus for Democracy' hustings attended by all candidates except Reform candidate Raymond Saint. I think not attending a Hustings organised by a community group shows where he stands in accepting every citizen of our constituency as one.
![A Reform party spokesman said: 'As Nigel Farage (pictured) has repeatedly made plain, people who belong or used to belong to the BNP are not welcome in the Reform UK party'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/16/86650325-13576673-image-a-2_1719501283943.jpg)
A Reform party spokesman said: 'As Nigel Farage (pictured) has repeatedly made plain, people who belong or used to belong to the BNP are not welcome in the Reform UK party'
'There is no place for racism or hate in our Borough. We have seen communities form all backgrounds share each other's values and rich culture through events in Town and in schools.
'Basingstoke electors should be made aware of this individual's background.'
Earlier this month another candidate resigned after the Mail revealed old blog posts that called on people to vote for the BNP.
Grant StClair-Armstrong, who was standing in Saffron Walden against Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, said he deeply regretted the posts made in 2010, when the BNP were at their electoral peak.
In one post, the businessman said he 'wept' at the state of the UK before adding: 'No doubt, Enoch Powell would be doing the same if he was alive.
'My solution…vote BNP!'
Reform UK has complained that it was let down by a company it paid to carry out vetting of its candidates.