Several Reform UK candidates accused of making sexist remarks about women online, including murdered MP Jo Cox and former Prime Minister Theresa May

Several Reform UK candidates have made disparaging remarks about women online, it emerged yesterday.

The comments, unearthed by the BBC, include remarks about murdered MP Jo Cox, former prime minister Theresa May and a black reality TV contestant.

Simon Moorehead, standing in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, wrote on X/Twitter: '[Jo] Cox was a dreadful woman, with bad ideas.' But added: 'No-one wanted her dead though.'

Andrew Banwell, the candidate for Thornbury and Yate, referred to Mrs May on X/Twitter as '[Angela] Merkel's Bitch'. 

Mrs Merkel's term as the German chancellor overlapped with Mrs May's time as prime minister. 

Mark Cole, the party's candidate in Harwich and North Essex, said in a Facebook post: 'Accidently switched on to X-Factory [sic]. The only thing worth watching is the black bint . . . whoever she is.'

Mr Cole deleted this comment after being approached by the BBC.

Emmett Jenner, the candidate for Ynys Mon, shared a post from Tory party headquarters which read: 'PM: I want girls who are growing up today to know that they can achieve anything they want.' Mr Jenner commented on the post: 'Like fertilising eggs & providing Y chromosomes.'

In response to a request for comment, Mr Jenner told the BBC: 'That is/was a parody account and you can see it is taking the Michael out of the Conservatives . . . it's all deliberately provocative windups meant to elicit embarrassing responses.'