David Prior
Reform UK candidate expelled after appearing on a BNP membership list disclosed by HOPE not hate.
Last refreshed: 26 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How many more BNP-list names appear among Reform UK's 2026 candidates as vetting questions mount?
Timeline for David Prior
Expelled from Reform UK after Jewish News identified him on a leaked 2007-2008 BNP membership list
UK Local Elections 2026: Fourth Reform candidate on BNP listNamed on leaked BNP list and expelled by Reform UK
UK Local Elections 2026: BNP-list disclosures expel three Reform names- Why was David Prior expelled from Reform UK?
- Prior was expelled on 25 April 2026 after HOPE not hate disclosed that his name appeared on a 2007-08 BNP membership and contacts list. Reform UK stated he had failed to disclose the historic affiliation.Source: Lowdown
- Can David Prior still appear on the ballot after being expelled from Reform UK?
- Yes. Under UK electoral law, ballot papers cannot be reprinted once printed and distributed. Prior's name remains on the Gateshead Saltwell ballot for 7 May 2026 despite his expulsion.Source: Lowdown
Background
David Robert Prior was a Reform UK candidate standing for the Gateshead Saltwell ward in the 7 May 2026 elections. On 25 April 2026, Reform UK confirmed he had been expelled after HOPE not hate disclosed that his name appeared on a 2007-08 British National Party membership and contacts list leaked by WikiLeaks.
Prior had reportedly sought support from the Orthodox Charedi community in Saltwell during his campaign, concealing his prior BNP association. A source described the BNP link as an "open secret" in his village. Reform UK said it had expelled him immediately upon being informed of the disclosure, characterising the failure as a vetting gap. Under electoral law, his name could not be removed from printed ballot papers, meaning votes cast for him at the 7 May poll will still be counted.
Prior was one of three Reform UK candidates expelled in the same HOPE not hate disclosure round on 25 April, alongside George Parnell (Hampshire Fleet) and John Black (Blackburn with Darwen). The simultaneous expulsions amplified scrutiny of Reform UK's candidate screening process ahead of its most significant electoral test.
