Reform apologises for not realising candidate had died

Uh oh. Reform UK has not had an easy ride with its general election candidates, to put it mildly. Richard Tice’s party has already had to drop ten prospective candidates for posting inappropriate comments on social media, including one who identified as a ‘pastafarian’ while another called for documentary maker David Attenborough to be ‘killed off’. It has now come to light that over 50 others were ditched for ‘complete inactivity’ — including York Central’s Tommy Cawkwell, whose lack of campaigning was down to the fact that he was, um, deceased.

A party spokesperson said today that Reform was ‘mortified’ for not knowing the RNLI volunteer had died, adding: ‘I can only apologise profusely for my mistake.’

The rueful party rep went on: 

I was unaware that he had died and I made an assumption based on the knowledge I possessed. I am mortified that my lack of care has caused his family pain… I do not know how to get hold of the family.