"A Reform UK candidate has been suspended from the party after posts on social media revealed his support for serial sex abuser Jimmy Savile.
Stephen Hartley was listed as standing for Reform UK in the Banbury Hardwick ward, ahead of local elections to Oxfordshire County Council on 1 May.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Hartley confirmed he had posted in 2022 that Savile was a "working class hero" and said he may have "forgotten" to disclose his X account to Reform UK."
"Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hartley said he had doubts over whether the allegations made by victims against Savile were true."
"The party's leader Nigel Farage said previously that candidates would be vetted ahead of the local elections"
"Mr Hartley will still appear on the ballot paper as a Reform UK candidate, as his suspension was announced after candidate lists were published."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2xey4m2ygo
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