Higham Ferrers was supposed to hold a local election on May 1st, but it got delayed due to the death of a candidate. It’s going ahead soon. And naturally Reform are standing a few candidates for councillor.
At least one of which apparently will not be allowed to serve on the basis that they are breaking the law in even standing for the position. It is not allowed for a single person to stand in multiple different wards during the same election, which is something that wannabe Reform councillor Elisa Perna is in fact doing.
The Electoral Commission have confirmed to the Lib Dems that this rule is in force. So should Perna be one of the election winners, presumably they would have to immediately stand down and yet another costly byelection would be needed.
Higham Ferrers really isn’t having great luck with its Reform candidates. Alan Beswick is another one standing in that council elections. However, in the few weeks since his nomination, he has decided to go and live in China. And even as much as Reform candidates seem to hate living in the places they are supposed to represent, even they agree that governing Higham Ferrer from 5000 miles away is a bit of a non-starter.
Per Reform Councillor Harrison:
He has just had a change of circumstances. He has got a Chinese wife and something has happened and he has got to go over there to China.
If he gets elected we will have to have a by-election.
It’s hard to argue with the Lib Dems when they say:
With one candidate who shouldn’t be on the ballot paper, one candidate sharing a photo of far-right group Britain First, and another candidate who has reportedly moved to China, the only safe route is for the people of Higham Ferrers to not vote for Reform at these elections.