Arron Banks with Nigel Farage last year. A close ally of Nigel Farage has been criticised after he complained about the lack of white people working at Heathrow Airport. Arron Banks was branded “shocking and disgraceful” after he spoke out in a now-deleted post on X. Banks, who was Reform UK candidate to become the West of England mayor last year, said: “Going through Heathrow today, there wasn’t one white face in security or airport services. “The Home Office is staffed by the type of people we are trying to keep out! What hope?” His comments sparked a wave of criticism online. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “What does this say to every non-white adult or child in this country? Born here? Raised here? No matter. Told by a Reform supporter, donor and mayoral candidate Arron Banks that they’re not welcome. Shocking and disgraceful.” What does this say to every non-white adult or child in this country? Born here? Raised here? No matter. Told by a Reform supporter, donor and mayoral candidate @Arron_banks that they’re not welcome. Shocking and disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/WLkmj2rQFz — Kevin Hollinrake MP (@kevinhollinrake) September 11, 2026 Political commentator Dan Hodges accused Banks of “outright racism”. There we go. One of Nigel Farage’s key allies. Eventually the mask slips. Not sure you could find a more blatant example of outright racism than this. https://t.co/dAmNBUp8U2 — (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) September 10, 2026 Reform is a party of corrupt wide-boys, of grifting multi-millionaires, of brazen racists and bigots. We mustn't ever let them get into power. — Mark Vipond (@MarkVipond) September 10, 2026 Banks is such a vile arrogant person 🤮 — 🇪🇺🇪🇺Mike1963🇪🇺🇪🇺 (@MikeDelvaux) September 10, 2026 The row comes just a week after Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman, was accused of racism after attacking a Labour council leader born in Somalia. Sagal Abdi-Wali, who on Wednesday was chosen as her party’s candidate in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election, came to the UK as a child refugee with her family more than 30 years ago. She became a Labour councillor in 2022, and has been leader of Camden Council in north London since May. In a post on X, Yusuf said: “The front runner being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour to replace the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in our Parliament was born in Somalia. Do you understand what’s happening?” It is not the first time that Yusuf’s social media posts have landed him in hot water. Last month he was slapped down by Nigel Farage after he said Ben Wallace, the former Tory defence secretary who served in the Scots Guards, was “a traitor to Britain”. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... 'Very Sleazy': Voters Deliver Damning Verdict On Nigel Farage Amid Donations Row Laura Kuenssberg Corners Farage Over Claim There's 'Prejudice' Against Reform 'I Wasn't Even Listening': Nigel Farage Comes Up With New Excuse Amid Reform Funding Row