Civil Liberties Action · On the Record

Chris Parry

Role at the time: Retired Royal Navy rear admiral and Reform UK candidate for Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent. Reform UK suspended his candidacy on 24 March 2026.

“Lammy must go home to the Caribbean where his loyalty lies.”

What was said

The Guardian reported on 19 December 2025 that Parry had posted the words above in response to a report about possible UK government consideration of slavery reparations. ITV subsequently reproduced the same wording and attributed the post to him.

The Guardian also reported a series of posts in which Parry questioned the primary loyalty of other Black and Asian British politicians, including Anas Sarwar, Naz Shah, Humza Yousaf, Zarah Sultana, Sadiq Khan, Dawn Butler, Shabana Mahmood and Kaukab Stewart.

Context and response

David Lammy was born in London to Guyanese parents. The statement therefore told a British-born politician to “go home” to a place associated with his family heritage while asserting that his loyalty lay there.

On 8 January 2026, after Nigel Farage called the wording “over the top” and asked for an apology, ITV reported Parry’s response. Parry said that much more had been read into a clumsily worded post than he intended, recognised Lammy’s public service and apologised for distress or offence.

On 15 October 2026, after ITV broadcast undercover footage of internal Reform UK discussions, Parry told ITV that the original context should be considered. He said the posts concerned reparations, government and policing failures, and his view that public figures acting against British interests should be open to criticism. The footage showed Reform communications director Ed Sumner describing Parry as racist and arguing for his removal; Farage said Parry had to apologise.

Evidence trail

The Guardian, 19 December 2025 — the attributed wording, reported timing and related posts.
ITV News Meridian, 8 January 2026 — the attributed wording, Farage’s response and Parry’s apology.
ITV News Meridian, 24 March 2026 — the later party suspension and the separate statement that prompted it.
ITV Exposure, 15 October 2026 — internal party discussion and Parry’s further response.
The Guardian, 15 October 2026 — corroboration and Reform UK’s statement about ongoing investigations.

Evidence status

The Guardian and ITV reproduce the same words and attribute them to Parry’s social-media account. The original post and full thread were not available in the public sources reviewed by CLA. The Guardian dates the post to February 2025; ITV described it on 8 January 2026 as nine months old. CLA therefore treats the exact posting date as reported, not independently confirmed.

Party and legal status

Reform UK suspended Parry and his mayoral candidacy pending investigation on 24 March 2026 after separate remarks about Jewish volunteer security groups. That was a party action, not a criminal or administrative finding, and it was not reported as the outcome of the Lammy statement.

Reform UK said on 15 October that investigations were ongoing and that it would not comment on individuals while due process continued. CLA found no reported criminal charge, conviction, court judgment or final administrative finding concerning the Lammy statement as of 16 October 2026.

Last reviewed: 16 October 2026

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