Calls for Resignation of Reform UK Councillor Over Blackface Photo
Reform councillor faces calls to resign over ‘racist’ blackface photograph

Image: The Independent
Geoff Shaw, a councillor for Reform UK, faces backlash after a photo surfaced showing him in blackface, which he claimed was a tribute to Bob Marley. Epping Mayor Razia Sharif and other officials have called for his resignation, citing the need for better judgment from public representatives.
- 01Geoff Shaw's blackface photo was taken at his son's birthday party in 2017.
- 02Epping Mayor Razia Sharif stated that the image does not meet the standards expected of an elected official.
- 03Councillor Holly Whitbread condemned Shaw's actions and questioned Reform UK's vetting process.
- 04Shaw defended the photo as a tribute to Bob Marley, expressing surprise at the backlash.
- 05This incident follows another case involving Councillor Derek Wunderley, who also faced criticism for a blackface photo.
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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.
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The controversy surrounding Geoff Shaw may lead to a loss of public trust in local governance.
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