The controversy surrounding Sian Astley's comments on immigration has exposed a deep-seated rift within Reform UK and sparked a heated debate about the party's approach to migrants and its engagement with voters. The Greater Manchester mayoral by-election candidate's remarks, which suggest that individuals who advocate for open borders should be held responsible for housing 'criminals and rapists', have ignited outrage from across the political spectrum.
Ms Astley made the contentious statements in a social media post, where she shared Reform UK's proposal to prioritise the placement of migrant detention centres in areas represented by Green Party MPs or councils. This policy, unveiled in May by Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, explicitly states that no such facilities would be established in areas with a Reform-controlled council or MP.
Alongside this policy, Ms Astley posted: “Personally I’d just ensure the Green voters, uniparty MPs (present or past) and Cllrs house the illegal criminals, rapists and economic chancers, so it’s nice of Reform UK to offer to build accommodation instead.” Labour Party chair Anna Turley has condemned the comments as 'grotesque' and indicative of a 'contempt for all voters', arguing that Ms Astley's endorsement of the proposal aligns with a view that communities should be either 'rewarded or punished' based on their voting patterns, which she labelled a 'betrayal of basic democratic principles'.
Despite the backlash, Ms Astley has stood by her remarks, suggesting critics were 'getting angry about the wrong thing' by focusing on her language rather than the perceived consequences of open border policies. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News this week, she asserted that those who advocate for open borders are effectively allowing 'criminals, economic chancers, rapists' into the country.
This controversy unfolds as the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election on 30th July approaches, which is set to be Britain's largest by-election with over 2 million eligible voters in a diverse region. Labour's candidate, Bev Craig, is widely considered the favourite to win.
Ms Astley, a property businesswoman known for her appearances on BBC programmes like DIY SOS, was initially seen as a strong candidate for Reform UK. However, opponents suggest her recent comments on immigration and voters could prove costly in a region with significant diversity. This incident follows previous challenges for Reform UK candidates, including accusations of misogyny against Robert Kenyon, their candidate in the Makerfield by-election, over past comments.