Nigel Farage has said Reform UK candidates for local elections in 2025 will be “vetted” following controversial comments during the General Election.

The party leader referred to Bexhill and Battle’s Ian Gribbon who said Britain would be “far better” if it had “taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality” instead of fighting the Nazis.

Speaking to BBC South East, Mr Farage said: “I had no idea how bad it was. I had no idea that half of these people simply haven’t been vetted – that’s got to change.”

Ahead of the party’s conference in Birmingham, Mr Farage said he planned to place Reform UK candidates across wards in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

Former UKIP leader Mr Farage added the party expected gains next May, particularly in Kent County Council elections.

In the general election, Reform UK were placed third in a number of Kent constituencies, and second in Dover and Deal.

He said: “That was a building block and it was a building block for what comes next May.

“I am trying, working – and I’ll be doing at the conference – to not only democratise the party, but professionalise the party.

“We have a massively bigger membership than UKIP ever had.

“We’re seen as much more broadly-based than being seen to be just about Europe. I think we can win a lot of seats.”

A key issue in the South East for Reform UK will be energy affordability and self-sufficiency, according to Mr Farage.

The MP for Clacton said he would want to bring a nuclear reactor back to Dungeness as an alternative to coal-fired power stations.

Dungeness power stations A and B were decommissioned in 2006 and 2021, respectively.

He said he’d like to see a “Dungeness C” and “going for a small modular nuclear reactor”.

He added: “Why? There’s a skilled local work force.”

Mr Farage also refused to rule out fracking in Surrey and Sussex, but said any work would be done “sensitively”.

He said: “I’m open to us being self sufficient in energy, absolutely.

“Open to consumers having lower prices, absolutely.

“Open to helping businesses thrive in our country, not close down.”

Mr Gribbin had apologised for his comments and said he withdrew them “unreservedly”.