Reform UK sorry for not knowing York candidate had died

Reform UK's leader Richard Tice said the party is looking to stand against every Conservative MP at the next general election

Reform UK has issued an apology after a candidate who had died was dropped by its media team for being "inactive".

Tommy Cawkwell, a volunteer for the RNLI, died after being picked to represent York Central at the next general election. 

However, a spokesperson for the party told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Mr Cawkwell had been one of 50 candidates who were dropped.

The party said they were "mortified" for not knowing he had died.

'Profuse apology'

The spokesperson said: "The simple fact is that we have removed upwards of 50 candidates for complete inactivity and I know those who had been removed for disciplinary measures.

"Mr Cawkwell was clearly not one of those.

"Sadly I was unaware that he had died and I made an assumption based on the knowledge I possessed.

"I am mortified that my lack of care has caused his family pain, and I can only apologise profusely for my mistake.

"I do not know how to get hold of the family. If I did, I would apologise in person."

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Reform UK's leader Richard Tice has previously said the party was looking to stand against every Conservative MP at the next general election, which is expected to be held before the end of the year.

Earlier this year, Lee Anderson became the first sitting MP for the party after defecting from the Conservative Party.

As well as finding a new York Central candidate, it was also looking to replace Julie Wilson, the former candidate for York Outer, who had been dropped by the party. 

Other candidates for Reform UK have been dropped for liking tweets by former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson and former British National Party leader Nick Griffin.

Some had made racist remarks against Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf. 

Another candidate made sexist remarks about Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner.