Controversial Candidate Rebrands, Runs Under New Name for Reform UK Amidst Past Islamophobia Accusations

The individual currently campaigning as "Dionne Moore" for Reform UK was a former Brexit Party candidate accused of Islamophobia in 2019.

By Sam Doak, Producer of Open Source Intelligence

Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 12:

A previous contender for the Brexit Party is now campaigning for Reform UK, having adopted a new name after facing Islamophobia allegations in 2019.

Dionne Moore Cocozza is currently a candidate in Glasgow West, now campaigning under the name Dionne Moore, adopting her middle name as her last name. There is no information on the Reform UK website that connects her to the 2019 election.

Dionne Cocozza, who once ran as a candidate for the Brexit Party, which has since been renamed Reform UK, previously competed in Glasgow North and garnered 320 votes.

Ms. Cocozza's run for office in the 2018 election garnered spotlight following reports by the University of Glasgow's student newspaper and the organization Hope Not Hate concerning her activity on social media.

She posted on social media, as reported by Sky News, claiming that Muslims were aiming to implement Sharia law.

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The group Hope Not Hate reported that Ms. Cocoziza commented on social media, stating, "You can't say anything if you're white 2019 [sic]."

In 2019, the organization noted that the candidate responded to Labour's David Lammy on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the politician was fueling racial tensions through what she termed as "loud, outspoken behavior and anti-white messages."

She also relayed a message from another user, reported by Sky News, alleging, "I heard a Muslim say, once we're elected, we gradually take over."

Sky News did not discover any other occasions where Ms Cocozza has publicly used the alias "Dionne Moore." Her X and LinkedIn profiles list her as Dionne Cocozza.

Ms. Cocozza has kept a low profile regarding her campaign on social platforms. Unlike some of her counterparts, her profile on the Reform UK website lacks a biography.

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Martyn Greene, Reform UK’s regional director for Scotland, verified that the individual who campaigned in 2019 is the same one running this time.

As of Tuesday morning, neither Reform nor their representative has replied to inquiries regarding Ms. Cocozza's nomination and her past social media activities. Earlier in the day, Reform announced that it had sought legal advice, alleging that the firm responsible for vetting its candidates did not perform sufficient background checks.

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Candidates running in Glasgow West include:

• James Calder represents the Liberal Democrats.

• James Cormack, affiliated with the Christian Party

• Patricia Ferguson, member of the

• Faten Hameed, affiliated with the Conservative Party

• Carol Monaghan, Scottish National Party (

• Nick Quail, from the Scottish Green Party

This text is a segment of the Online Election project, an endeavor by Sky News focusing on the digital aspects of the election campaign.

The Data and Forensic Unit at Sky News is composed of versatile journalists committed to maintaining transparency in reporting. This team collects, scrutinizes, and displays data to craft stories informed by solid data. They skillfully blend conventional journalism with sophisticated analysis of satellite imagery, social networks, and various publicly available data sources. By employing multimedia narratives, they strive not only to enhance understanding of global events but also to demonstrate the processes behind their reporting.

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