Reform UK candidate Tim Wheeler has been urged to apologise and withdraw remarks in which he suggested staff members at a recycling facility enjoyed the heatwave because of their African heritage. In a video shared online, Wheeler, who stood to be the Reform MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in 2024 and ran to be a councillor in Ruislip in May, can be seen with his Reform rosette complaining that the Rickmansworth Recycling Centre was closed during the recent heatwave.
Wheeler's comments and reaction
Wheeler claims he called Hertfordshire County Council to complain about the closure. He goes on to say: “Apparently it's [closed] because of the weather, the hot weather for God’s sake… As I pointed out to them, most of the people who work down here are African. They enjoy the hot weather.” The video, since deleted from social media, garnered traction online and led to widespread anger.
Dr Boikanyo Trust Phenyo, who stood to be a Labour councillor in Uxbridge at the May local elections, called the comments deeply offensive. She said: "I am deeply offended by the comments made by the Reform activist, Tim Wheeler. Closures of any public amenity for weather-related reasons are generally based on staff health and safety. Mr Wheeler’s comments are both racist and demeaning in their stereotype of Africans. I am a British Botswanan and I can assure you that I, too, have been impacted by the recent extreme weather conditions. Our safety and well-being at work cannot be secondary because of our ethnicity."
Political condemnation
Councillor Stuart Mathers, Leader of Hillingdon Labour, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The former candidate should apologise immediately for their disappointing comments. This is another example where Reform candidates use divisive language and stereotype rather than bring our amazing communities together. Sadly I feel asking for an apology from Reform is a complete waste of time because they've shown again and again their failure to call out remarks such as these, if anything it feels like they actively encourage it. Thankfully this candidate and their divisive language was rejected by the electorate in May.”
This is not the first time Hillingdon Reform have faced controversy over candidate comments. In April, the LDRS revealed a series of posts by the candidate for Ickenham and South Harefield, Howard Dini, including one that called for a mass shooting of Muslims. Opposition parties urged Reform UK to cut ties with Dini over the Islamophobic and ableist posts, but Reform did not withdraw support, and he ultimately lost his election.
No response from Reform UK
Reform UK was contacted for comment but did not respond. It was not possible to contact Wheeler directly for a response.
