You'd think a politician aiming for a major mayoral office would know how to read the room. Apparently not. Chris Parry, a Reform UK mayoral candidate for Hampshire and the Solent, just proved that some people simply can't help themselves when it comes to social media.
Just hours after a targeted arson attack on Jewish charity ambulances in North London, Parry took to X to take a swipe at Shomrim. For those who don't know, Shomrim is a group of Jewish volunteers who patrol neighborhoods to keep people safe. They've been doing it for years. They work with the police. They aren't some fringe militia.
But Parry didn't see it that way. He called them "cosplayers." Then he went a step further, likening the group to "Islamists on horseback." It's a comment that isn't just poorly timed—it's bafflingly aggressive.
The fallout from the Islamists on horseback comment
The timing couldn't have been worse. Counter-terrorism officers were literally still on the scene in Golders Green, investigating why four Hatzola ambulances—which serve both Jewish and non-Jewish patients—had been set on fire. While a community was reeling from what felt like a direct attack, a man wanting to lead a major UK region decided to mock their security.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim, didn't mince words. He called Parry "ignorant." He pointed out the obvious: Shomrim works on a voluntary basis across all sections of the community. They have a tight relationship with the police.
Parry's defense? He claimed people were "confusing various community action groups with the real police." He argued these "cosplayers" have no more legal authority than any other citizen. While technically true—Shomrim members don't have special arrest powers beyond a citizen's arrest—his choice of words felt like a deliberate attempt to delegitimize a group that provides actual value to public safety.
Not the first time for Reform UK candidates
If this feels like a pattern, that's because it is. Reform UK has been plagued by candidates making comments that range from "clumsy" to outright offensive. Parry himself is no stranger to the "apology tour."
Just last January, he had to say sorry for telling Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to "go home to the Caribbean." Parry's excuse then? It was "clumsily worded." There's a point where "clumsy" starts to look like a worldview.
The Howard Cox precedent
Look at Howard Cox, the party's 2024 London mayoral candidate. Cox eventually left Reform UK in early 2025 because he felt the party was becoming a "dictatorship." He was told to keep quiet about his support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson or face expulsion.
The irony is thick here. On one hand, you have Reform candidates like Parry attacking a Jewish community group for being "cosplayers." On the other, you had candidates like Cox being told to distance themselves from actual street activists to maintain a "respectable" political image.
The party seems to be in a constant tug-of-war. They want to be the "common sense" alternative to the Tories, but they keep attracting—or failing to vet—people who can't stop themselves from making inflammatory remarks about minority groups.
Why Shomrim exists in the first place
People don't just wake up and decide to spend their Friday nights patrolling the streets for fun. Shomrim exists because many Jewish communities feel vulnerable. With antisemitic incidents on the rise, having a visible presence of people who understand the local culture and language is a massive comfort.
They aren't trying to be the Met Police. They're trying to bridge a gap. They often act as the first point of contact, de-escalating situations or gathering evidence before the police arrive. Calling them "Islamists on horseback" isn't just an insult to them; it's a weirdly specific trope that tries to paint any minority-led community effort as a threat to "British" law and order.
What this means for the May local elections
The May elections are looming. Reform UK is banking on a "clash of animosities" to win over voters tired of Labour and the Conservatives. But when candidates like Parry go rogue on X, it makes it very hard for the party to claim they're the adults in the room.
If you're a voter in Hampshire or the Solent, you're looking at a candidate who sees a neighborhood watch group and thinks "cosplayers." You're looking at someone who reacts to an arson attack by attacking the victims' support network.
Reform UK has a vetting problem. They also have a messaging problem. If they want to be taken seriously as a governing force, they have to move past the "edgy" social media posts and actually show they understand the communities they want to represent.
Moving forward in your community
If you're concerned about local safety or how community groups operate alongside the police, don't just take a politician's tweet at face value.
- Look up your local Shomrim or neighborhood watch: See how they actually interact with your local police force. Most have transparent operating procedures.
- Check the vetting: If you're supporting a political party, look into the history of their local candidates. Sites like "Who Can I Vote For?" are great for this.
- Support emergency services: The attack on the Hatzola ambulances affects everyone. Consider donating to local medical charities that provide free emergency transport.
Political noise is everywhere. Don't let a "clumsy" tweet distract from the fact that community safety is built on cooperation, not name-calling.
