Reform councillor pulled up over Islamophobic conspiracy video

A Tyneside councillor representing Reform UK has been exposed for sharing an Islamophobic conspiracy video. In response, Michelle Fascione accused the councillor who flagged the video of creating ‘division’:

Reform UK councillor faces calls to resign after sharing ‘Islamophobic’ video https://t.co/Hn6hEnKdRe

— Reform Party UK Exposed (@reformexposed) July 2, 2026

We’re not sure how that surname is pronounced, but we’d assume ‘Fash-ee-oney’, which is fitting, honestly.

Again

Fascione is a former police officer who represents the Simonside and Rekendyke ward in South Tyneside. She first took her seat in May this year, and she shared the video before becoming a councillor.

As reported by Chronicle Live, the video claimed that Muslims want to “dominate” the UK. The video also:

claimed that parts of Rochdale, Bradford and London were “no-go zones”, where police were “afraid to go.”

Fascione is an ex-police officer, so possibly she’s seen this cowardice first hand. As we’ve reported elsewhere, UK police officers do have a tendency to abandon their training as soon as the sh*t hits the fan.

All that aside, the concept of the Islamic ‘no-go zone’ is a myth that right-wingers spread online. Sure, there are rough areas in the UK, but most crime has fallen by 90% over the past three decades. If you don’t agree with that, you no doubt lived somewhere posh in the 90s, because things weren’t so nice then, we can tell you.

Call out and response

In response to all this, the local Labour councillors said “hate speech and intolerance” is pervasive in Reform UK’s South Tyneside operation. Councillor Geraldine Kilgour added:

Another week, another Reform councillor in South Tyneside showing us who they really are.

It’s shocking to see a senior Reform councillor sharing such hateful, Islamophobic content online as well as fake news about “no go” zones. Councillor Fascione is clearly not up to the job of standing on the advisory council for religious education in South Tyneside and she should apologise for sharing these clips and resign.

It is clear that hate speech and intolerance is a pattern in Reform UK in South Tyneside, and I’d challenge Councillor Mackings to get a grip of his group and expel members of his group who hold these abhorrent views.

Fascione responded:

I did share a video relating to Islam before I became a councillor. The video showed a differing view from my own in respect of the Islam religion and I often share debatable content.

This has a ring of the ‘get-out-of-jail-free-card’ to it. Fascione continued:

No malice or discrimination was ever my intent, nor would it ever be. In my opinion, debate is the key to changing misconceptions and misunderstandings and maybe it would have been wiser, friendlier and cause less division had the Labour councillor come to see me personally.

It’s pretty rich to talk about ‘wisdom’ and ‘friendliness’ when you’re sharing Islamophobic conspiracy crap, honestly.

Fascione finished:

I am happy to work with anyone who wants the best for the people of South Tyneside, whether that be Labour, Green or Independent.

The problem is what her idea of “best” is.

Tip of the Reform iceberg

As we’ve reported, Fascione is really just the tip of the iceberg:

• Reform activist worries growth of Jewish population could ruin UK culture.
• Reform candidate suggests ‘melting Nigerians’ to fill potholes.
• Calls for Reform candidate who praised rape of Sikh women to face suspension.
• Another Reform candidate praises Oswald Moseley — A rite of party initiation?
• Reform welcomes ‘shoot the p*kis’ scandal ex-Tory.
• Reform UK accused of ‘nil vetting’ as another racist candidate exposed.

People will continue to expose these politicians, and the politicians being exposed will continue to blame us for exposing them.

Featured image via the Canary

By Willem Moore