According to the Guardian, Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the by-election in Makerfield, northern England, shared a video featuring Ant Middleton and called him “one of my heroes.” Middleton, a former Special Forces soldier and TV presenter, has previously sparked controversy with Islamophobic remarks and glorification of violence.
Middleton had written on X, among other things, “You cannot be Muslim and rule a Christian country/city” and called for first-, second-, and third-generation immigrants to be barred from top government positions. He also praised violence after a murder in Southampton, writing “well done, Southampton.” The party had distanced itself from Middleton in 2024 after he increasingly embraced far-right positions and attended rallies by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The renewed rapprochement with Middleton is likely tactical: Reform UK is under pressure in Makerfield from the new Restore Britain party, founded by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. With Middleton’s endorsement, the party apparently hopes to attract Conservative voters. Labour leader and Anna Turley sharply criticized the decision: “Reform has no shame.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
