Geoff Shaw, a councillor representing Theydon Bois with Passingford for Reform UK, is under pressure to resign following the emergence of a photo depicting him in blackface, which he claimed was intended as a tribute to Jamaican singer Bob Marley. The image, shared on his Facebook page in 2017, was reported by a local resident to the Epping Forest District Council, prompting significant backlash. Epping Mayor Razia Sharif expressed that the photo 'falls significantly short' of the standards expected from elected officials, emphasizing that public office requires a higher level of judgment. Councillor Holly Whitbread also condemned Shaw's actions, calling them 'disgusting' and raising concerns about Reform UK's vetting process. Shaw, who deleted the image, stated he was surprised by the reaction, asserting that the photo was taken during a themed birthday party for his son. This incident follows similar controversy surrounding another Reform UK councillor, Derek Wunderley, who also faced backlash for a blackface photo. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, has previously criticized the use of blackface.