Aberdeen activist in Humza Yousaf racism storm who wanted Queen dead leafleted for Reform UK
Peter Dow was quickly disowned by the party after the Aberdeen Central candidate visited his flat to drop off flyers.
A controversial Aberdeen activist was dropped by Reform UK as a volunteer after a row in his flat with the city centre candidate.
Peter Dow has previous convictions for racial abuse, calling on the late Queen Elizabeth to be shot, and making sexually suggestive remarks to a local councillor.
But the longtime independence supporter went out leafleting for Nigel Farage’s party last week ahead of the upcoming Scottish election.
Mr Dow outlined his activity on social media in a post about being “sacked” as a Reform volunteer, after candidate James Wyllie became aware of his past.
He claims Mr Wyllie – a veteran Aberdeen University academic – “stormed out of my flat in a huff” – following a row at the weekend.
The self-described political activist says the argument was sparked by Mr Wyllie telling him not to canvass for support on Sunday.
Mr Dow says he thought this was “a bit stupid”.
He claimed Mr Wyllie “snatched back his leaflets” before leaving.
“I wish Reform UK all the best but I think Jim Wyllie will struggle with his campaign while he takes such a cavalier attitude to sacking his volunteers in a huff,” he wrote, on a Facebook page for Reform supporters.
But Reform insiders say Mr Wyllie had chosen not to associate with Mr Dow any further after he was alerted to past controversies.
They told The Press and Journal Mr Dow is not a party member and only volunteered a couple of weeks ago.
He handed out a small number of leaflets last week before ties were then severed.
Aberdonian Mr Dow has multiple past criminal convictions.
In December 2025, he was found guilty of sending racist tweets aimed at former First Minister Humza Yousaf and others.
He called for Muslims to be deported and branded the ex-SNP leader a “P**i”.
Mr Dow was also found to have sent racially aggravated to SNP politician Kaukab Stewart.
During his trial, Mr Dow attempted to introduce video evidence of crimes being committed by Muslims to the court.
He begged for the return of his Dell desktop computer, which had been seized in a police raid, saying this was a “crime against humanity” because it stopped him from carrying out scientific research.
The court was also shown an image entitled “Peter Dow is not a racist”, which was a collage of selfies he had taken with black women.
Nine years ago, he was fined over a breach of the peace for sparking a terrorism investigation after posting tweets which threatened the late Queen Elizabeth.
In 2014, he said that he wanted to see the “Queen’s brains blown out and her body splattered on the ground”.
In court, Mr Dow said he was happy to “delete or moderate tweets”.
In 2018, the self-styled activist was fined after sending an Aberdeen councillor sexually suggestive emails.
Mr Dow was convicted of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the SNP’s Catriona Mackenzie.
In an email, he invited the councillor to his flat, saying he would be “shaved, showered and presentable” for her.
Mr Dow’s own lawyer described him as a “fantasist”, but claimed he was being “flirtatious”.
The activist describes himself as a “Scottish scientist and a republican socialist” on his personal blog.
He claims his “legal human rights” have been “cruelly violated” by the justice system.
Mr Dow says he is currently banned from using the social media site X due to his bail conditions.
His biography on X, formerly known as Twitter, states: “My loves are science, politics and women.”
The SNP’s Aberdeen Central candidate Jack Middleton branded Mr Dow a “weirdo” who had been “welcomed with open arms” by Reform.
“Peter Dow has a sickening back catalogue of racism and misogyny,” Mr Middleton told The Press and Journal.
“Yet he was welcomed with open arms by Nigel Farage’s party and sent out onto the streets of Aberdeen to speak with local voters.”
‘Nothing to do with Reform’
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “This person has nothing to do with Reform UK whatsoever.
“He put himself forward as volunteer a couple of weeks ago to hand out leaflets.
“As soon as our candidate became aware of his past he made it clear he wanted absolutely to do with him.”
‘Nothing to do with my past’
The P&J spoke to Mr Dow who disputes Reform UK’s reasons for ditching him.
“It was nothing to do with my past,” he said.
“What they’re saying now is putting icing on the cake to justify Jim going off in a huff.”
But the row has not put him off supporting the party.
“If they don’t want my vote, they can’t stop me voting for them,” he said.
[Source: Press and Journal]
