Reform UK has been embroiled in a Local Elections row after Arron Banks was "banned" from using a three-word slogan by Bristol's Green-run council.
Banks, who was unveiled as Reform's candidate for the West of England mayoralty last week, fumed about his "Banksy for Bristol" slogan being blocked.
The slogan was a play on Banks's surname and Bristol's anonymous graffiti artist who shares the same nickname.
In a letter sent ahead of the election branding submission deadline, Bristol City Council claimed it was disallowing the slogan due to concerns about copyright.
Political donor Arron Banks during the Reform UK campaign launch rally at the Utilita Arena on March 28, 2025
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Firing back against the decision yesterday, Banks said: "I’ve been informed by my election agent that the Green led council in Bristol have banned me from using my own name 'Banksy' on my paperwork and leaflet!
"For fear of upsetting the other 'Banksy'. The agent has also said they have done everything they can to rule out my application.
"There is no justification for this intervention other than they are running scared. The Reform legal department will issuing a letter to the council today and we are not ruling out legal action.
"I’ve been called Banksy as a nickname for 40 plus years. The other Banksy is a street artist that illegally paints on property. Maybe , I’ll try my hand at art on the Bristol council offices! A nice 'Banksy for Bristol' stencil. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander."
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Arron Banks has been a loyal ally to Nigel FarageGETTYBanks, who helped Nigel Farage during his Ukip days and later bankrolled the Leave.EU campaign, declared his candidacy at Reform's Birmingham rally last week by using the slogan.
"Vote Banksy for Bristol," the 59-year-old said.
Reform UK also vented its frustrations in a letter to Bristol City Council.
“Mr Banks has very publicly and openly been using this campaign slogan since his candidacy had been announced and we are extremely concerned that this ‘concern’ was not voiced at any time before it was too late to respond," the populist party said.
Despite admitting that he was “really unpopular in Bristol”, Banks last week claimed the contest remains a "five-way battle" that Reform could win by "coming through the middle".
Anti-Reform protesters gathered in Bristol last night to demonstrate against Banks ahead of a transport themed hustings event.
Arron Banks, Reform's mayoral candidate for the West of England, fires a Reform t-shirt in to the crowd watched by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during the Reform UK local election launch rally at the Utilita Arena BirminghamPAHowever, GB News's number-crunchers revealed that Reform UK attracted 10.5 per cent of the vote across the West of England mayoral area in the 2024 General Election.
Despite struggling in parts of liberal-leaning Bristol, the populist party performed in line with its national support in Bristol South, Thornbury & Yate and North East Somerset & Hanham.
Labour hoovered up the most votes across the area in 2024, with the Tories finishing in a distant second and the Liberal Democrats ending up in third.
The Tories won the first contest for the West of England mayoralty, with Labour snatching the post back in 2021.
Banks will go up against Labour's Helen Godwin, Tory Steve Smith, Green candidate Mary Page, Liberal Democrat Oli Henham and Independent Ian Scott on May 1.
Bristol City Council has declined to comment.
