Reform cold calling public in bid to find ‘paper’ candidates for local elections

Reform cold calling public in bid to find ‘paper’ candidates for local elections Guardian journalist among those to get surprise request, though Farage denies party are ‘begging’ people to stand UK politics live – latest updates Reform UK has been cold calling people asking them to become “paper” candidates for the party at the local elections , as parties dash to sign up enough names before Thursday’s deadline. Nigel Farage’s party has been ringing members of the public asking them to stand despite apparently knowing very little about them except that they have signed up for Reform’s email updates. Those who have been asked to stand include members of other parties and even a Guardian journalist, who was asked in a call last week: “Will you come in to become a paper candidate today and help us to win the election?” The caller added: “Just have your name on the ballot and maybe you will actually win the election.” Prospective paper candidates are told they would not need to do anything apart from provide their name and address. They are then asked if they are bankrupt and if they have any criminal convictions, before being offered a candidate application pack. The method of asking people to be “paper candidates” is one usually used by parties asking their own known members to stand without doing any campaigning – rather than approaching unknown members of the public through phone calls. One Reform mailing list in London sent to anyone who has signed up to receive updates reads: “Even if you just want to assist by being a ‘paper candidate’ please help Nigel and our team by signing up as a candidate today.” The Conservatives also released a tape of a cold call from a Reform representative asking in a stilted message whether the person would like to stand in an area of Birmingham. However, in Warwickshire on Tuesday, Farage denied that Reform had been cold calling people in Birmingham “begging them to stand in local elections”, saying it would be “very, very fruitless”...