Former Reform UK candidate attended event organised by 'UK's largest far-right white supremacist movement'
PLUS: A teacher has been banned for life after an undercover sting
Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.
Today we report on a man who came within 100 votes of being elected to Lancashire County Council in the summer.
Joe Custodio, originally from Portugal, attended an event organised by Patriotic Alternative this summer.
Although Patriotic Alternative have suffered a dip in prominence in recent years, they were once called the UK’s largest far-right white supremacist movement by The Times and have some questionable beliefs.
Reform UK said he’s not a member of the party - and the local branch said he never had been - but they offered him their support.
We also report on a teacher from Chorley who has been banned for life after being caught by an undercover police officer.
Disgust at Reform UK candidate attending event organised by far-right in Lancashire
By Luke Beardsworth
A Reform candidate in May’s local elections has drawn criticism for attending an event organised by a group once described as Britain’s largest far-right white supremacist movement.
Joe Custodio was Reform UK’s candidate for Preston Central West in May’s Lancashire County Council election but was one of the few candidates to miss out - coming second to Matthew Brown by a margin of just 86 votes.
Custodio, a Portuguese businessman, attended the Patriotic Alternative Summer camp in East Lancashire. He moved to the UK in 2017 and works in graphic design.
Patriotic Alternative have been known to support deportation of people of ‘migrant descent’, advocated for political violence, and supported white genocide conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial, according to Hope Not Hate.
Custodio told The Lancashire Lead in a statement issued through the local Reform UK branch: “I was invited to a barbecue by an acquaintance and went. I saw nothing but kids playing games and people having a barbecue.
“I had no idea who the organiser was and what they stood for, if I knew that I wouldn't have gone but I don't study the organiser and guest list of everywhere I get invited to.“
He denied being part of any attempt by Patriotic Alternative to infiltrate Reform UK and said he intends to continue being involved with them.
Cllr Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council and Labour county councillor for Preston Central West, said: “If true, and from what I have read about this ‘organisation’, it is disgusting someone seeking public office for Reform UK would attend any event organised by what The Times described as ‘Britain’s largest far-right white supremacist movement’.
“Division and hatred have absolutely no place in Preston and unlike Mr Custodio we value all our communities here.
“As Leader of the Labour led City Council, we will continue supporting movements like Show Racism the Red Card that challenge all forms of racism, hatred, and intolerance.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “Joe Custodio is not a candidate for Reform UK in any forthcoming election and is not a member of the party.”
Custodio says he ran for Reform UK because he wanted to work to enhance local services, schools and ensure the community ‘is a safe and welcoming place for everyone’.
The Lancashire Lead understands he has never been a Reform UK member and it is not a requirement to stand for the party in an election.
Recommended reading this week
⚽ The singer who performed the Liverpool anthem as a tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva ahead of the Reds' pre-season friendly at Preston has said it was a "very emotional" and "special" moment. Full story here.
🎵 A popular Lancaster music venue has announced it is to close at the end of the year. Kanteena in Brewery Lane will hold a New Year’s Eve party before shutting its doors for good. Sad, but unsurprising, news here.
📚 A headteacher says she was ‘blessed’ to be part of a Blackburn school as she bid farewell after 18 years. The Lancashire Telegraph has the story.
Teacher banned from classroom for life after undercover sting
By Simon Drury
A teacher who sent pictures of his genitals to an undercover police officer posing as a 12-year-old girl has been banned from the classroom for life.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Lancashire Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.