MP calls for action to be taken against Dudley councillor over race and gay slurs

An MP is calling for Reform UK to take action against a Dudley councillor over ‘vile racist and homophobic rhetoric’ posted on social media.

Alex Ballinger, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, called on Reform leader Nigel Farage to launch an investigation into Councillor Caley Ashman over comments he made on X - formerly known as Twitter - last year.

The posts were made before Councillor Ashman was elected to represent Cradley North and Wollescote at May’s local elections.

In May this year, Mr Ballinger along with fellow Dudley Labour MPs MP Cat Eccles and Sonia Kumar, wrote to Mr Farage expressing concerns about Councillor Ashman’s posts, which included the antisemitic term ‘goy-slop’, and another in which he appeared to say ‘You shouldn’t let foreigners look after the young or old as they don’t care about you’.

He also shared an offensive post about the gay, Scottish conservative commentator Douglas Murray.

Mr Ballinger said the MPs received no response from Mr Farage or Reform UK, and said it was concerning that he continued to represent the party in the wake of ITV’s recent undercover investigation into the party.

“Given the party’s response to the recent ITV News documentary was to state that ‘there is no room for racism in Reform UK’, it is now time for Reform UK to take immediate action against Councillor Ashman and condemn his vile racist and homophobic rhetoric,” he said.

“That is why today I am again calling on Nigel Farage MP to condemn Councillor Ashman’s comments, take immediate action against him, and condemn this behaviour.”

Councillor Marco Longhi, leader of Dudley Council’s opposition Reform group accused Mr Ballinger of failing to ‘practice what he preaches’.

He said: "Instead of writing desperate letters, Mr Ballinger should look closer to home.

“Only two parties have been condemned by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission for antisemitism: the BNP and Labour.

“Yet he continues to sit on the same benches as Labour MPs such as Diane Abbott who continue to deny that anti-Jewish racism exists.

“Perhaps Mr Ballinger should practice what he preaches."