"Deeply offensive" - Critics demand action after controversial Reform UK councillor quits South Tyneside post

Former councillor Alex Clarke’s controversial podcast views have been widely condemned – locally and nationally.

Harry Shukman, researcher at anti-fascist organisation HOPE not hate, said the failed politician’s opinions had “no place in politics”, adding: “Unfortunately, they seem welcome in Reform.

“The leaders of Reform UK insist that they have the best vetting processes of any political party, which begs the question: how did they select Alex Clarke?”

Michael Clare, chair of South Shields Constituency Labour Party and a former Harton councillor who lost his seat in May, said of Clarke’s resignation: “I think it was inevitable.”

On the day Clarke quit but before it was confirmed, Mr Clare had written to Paul Mackings, South Tyneside’s Reform-led council leader, demanding he publicly condemn him.

Confirming he had received no reply, he added: “It’s the nature of the people Reform has recruited, there’s just no vetting procedure.

“I think what they did was to try to get as many people as they could to get a complete slate covered across the borough.

“It will cost between £25,000 and £30,000 for a by-election, which is ridiculous and not good for democracy.

“He claims that what he says is just banter, but it’s disgusting. It would be bad enough if it was a normal member of the public, but this a council representative.”

And Gerladine Kilgour, Labour’s only South Tyneside councillor, said: “Reform UK have caused this by-election just over a month since the local elections, which will cost the taxpayers thousands of pounds – simply because they failed to vet their candidates properly.

“I urge Councillor Mackings to take responsibility for his councillor. He should be apologising to residents across South Tyneside for these deeply offensive comments.

“There is simply no place in our community for such hate.”

Neither Reform UK nor Cllr Mackings replied to a request for comment.