Reform UK's Lee Anderson caught parking his car in disabled space

13 June 2024 , 16:01

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Reform UK's Lee Anderson caught parking his car in disabled space

Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has been caught parking in a disabled parking spot while on the campaign trail.

Video and pictures show the ex-Tory, now standing for Nigel Farage's party, getting into a silver car parked in a disabled bay in Huthwaite Market Place car park in his Ashfield constituency on Friday.

Mr Anderson is seen putting a bag in the boot of his grey BMW X5 vehicle and removing his jacket before opening the driver’s door and getting in. A blue badge is not displayed on the windscreen.

Lee Anderson was seen getting into his car - in a disabled parking space

Approached for comment, Mr Anderson said he did not remember where he was that day as he was “all over Ashfield on Friday at several different locations.” He added: “The only time I would deliberately park in a disabled bay in when I’m with my disabled wife.”

But the video also shows what appears to be a broadcast crew entering the vehicle with him - one of whom was carrying a boom microphone.

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No blue badge was visible in the car's windscreen

Mr Anderson said: "I've been back to the site and ... there is no signage. The yellow paint on the floor has nearly all gone so it's not instantly recognisable as a disabled bay.

"I would never deliberately park in a disabled bay.

"I have reported this poorly marked bay to the council to make sure some signs are put up at eye level and the bay is painted correctly."

Around an hour and a half after the video was taken, Mr Anderson posted a Facebook video of him and his team “having a well-deserved break” in The Picture House, a Wetherspoons pub around 8 minutes drive from the car park.

Last month his party leader, Nigel Farage, sparked fury after pictures emerged of him parking his white BMW in a disabled parking spot for 45 minutes to go shopping at M&S.

He was seen getting into the car with what appeared to be a broadcast recording crew

In 2021, Mr Anderson posted on Facebook about a Zoom meeting he’d attended with the Conservative Party’s disabilities group. He said they had “asked a series of questions about disabilities. It made me realise how ignorant I am.”

He added: “One gentleman told me there are certain places he does not visit as there are no disabled toilets. I promised him I will raise this and I will. I obviously take too much for granted.”

Mikey Smith