A candidate from Reform UK is facing new backlash for making controversial remarks suggesting that individuals of non-Christian faiths should consume “bacon” as a demonstration of their commitment to Christianity. Chris Parry, the party’s Hampshire and the Solent mayoral candidate, referenced an article expressing concerns about migrants undergoing baptism in hotel bathtubs to secure asylum.
Dr. Parry made the comments in October, suggesting that followers of other religions should consume bacon for a month to authenticate their Christian faith. Additionally, he shared a post featuring a microwave with a sign stating it was exclusively for Halal food due to religious reasons, responding to a user’s question by mentioning sausages, which are permissible under Islamic dietary laws while pork is prohibited.
In a subsequent post in November, Dr. Parry, a former senior Royal Navy officer, reiterated his proposal for individuals converting to Christianity to eat pork for a month before being accepted for baptism. He referenced the Archbishop of Canterbury’s remarks about churches baptizing asylum seekers to address concerns about potential exploitation of the system through religious conversion.
The pressure has mounted on Nigel Farage to remove Dr. Parry from his position, as the latter has been criticized for previous controversial statements, including telling David Lammy to “go home to the Caribbean” while running as Reform’s mayoral candidate. Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party, condemned the remarks, labeling them as unacceptable for someone seeking public office, and criticized Farage for supporting someone with racist and divisive views.
Dr. Parry also questioned the loyalty of eight other public figures from minority ethnic backgrounds to the UK in a previous statement. He defended his comments, stating they were meant in a light-hearted manner and underscored the need for thorough verification of asylum claims based on religion. Reform UK declined to comment on the matter.