Reform UK ditches candidate in York for next general election

Julie Wilson has been removed as a candidate for Reform UK at the next general election after she became “inactive”.

Ms Wilson was the candidate for York Outer, but Reform UK will now find a different candidate.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service was initially told that by Reform UK Tommy Cawkwell, the candidate for York Central, was deselected due to being inactive, but the party confirmed days later that Mr Cawkwell had sadly died.

Reform UK’s leader Richard Tice has previously said his party will field candidates against every Conservative at the next election.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said two new candidates would be put forward after “some level of vetting."

“We can't afford to have people doing nothing in an election year,” the spokesperson said, before learning of Mr Cawkwell’s passing.

“They were inactive candidates and we need candidates who are active to give people the candidates they deserve.”

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: “If Reform UK wants to be taken seriously, why do their candidates not want any publicity for their campaigns in these seats in York?

“This just shows that Reform is not the answer.”

In the general election expected this year, Labour’s Rachael Maskell and the Conservatives' Julian Sturdy will defend their seats in York Central and York Outer respectively.

Ms Maskell has a majority of more than 13,500 and, considering Labour’s lead in national polling will likely be re-elected.

Julian Sturdy’s seat is less safe for him as his majority is under 10,000, and with the Conservatives dropping significantly in the polls since 2019, he may lose his seat.

People campaigning for Labour to win the York Outer have often said it is a seat they need to win in order to get a majority at the next election.