Stuart Prior, the Reform UK councillor for Rayleigh West in Essex, has stepped down following explosive claims about his social media activity that have sparked outrage and political backlash.
Allegations of Racist and Islamophobic Remarks Surface
Hope Not Hate, a prominent anti-extremism watchdog, revealed that Prior allegedly referred to white people as “the master race” with “larger brains.” The organization also exposed posts from a now-deleted X account, @essexpriory, which Prior reportedly operated earlier this year.
These posts included inflammatory statements such as “Muslims are dirt” and “Muslims are awful, globally,” alongside troubling claims denying that genocide could be committed against Muslims. The hateful rhetoric ignited fierce criticism from political opponents and community leaders alike.
Prior Denies Authorship of Offensive Posts
Responding to the allegations, Prior told the Mirror newspaper, “that’s not what I would have put down” and insisted, “this isn’t me.” Despite his denials, the controversy intensified pressure on Reform UK to address the situation promptly.
Political Fallout and Party Response
Political rivals demanded that Reform UK disqualify Prior as a candidate ahead of the upcoming local elections scheduled for Thursday. Reform UK confirmed it was investigating the social media posts over several days last week but had not immediately announced any disciplinary actions.
Prior secured his Essex County Council seat for Rayleigh West with a majority of 796 votes, unseating the Liberal Democrats. His resignation leaves the party scrambling to manage the fallout from this damaging episode.
