Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield byelection, Robert Kenyon, has been criticised for welcoming an endorsement from Ant Middleton, the former soldier and TV presenter. Middleton has a history of making anti-Muslim comments and has been known to associate with far-right activists, including Tommy Robinson. Despite Reform UK's apparent efforts to distance itself from Middleton, Kenyon shared a video of himself with the former special forces soldier, describing him as 'one of my heroes'.
The endorsement has sparked criticism from Labour, with Anna Turley MP stating that Reform UK 'have no shame' in welcoming Middleton's support. Turley noted that Middleton has a criminal record and has made several inflammatory comments, including stating that '1st, 2nd & 3rd generation immigrants should not hold top-tier government positions'. Middleton has also been banned from being a company director after his company failed to pay over £1m in tax.
The endorsement is seen as a bid to attract voters from Restore Britain, a hard-right party set up by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. Restore Britain is widely expected to come third in the Makerfield election, and a leaked poll has suggested that the party's performance could potentially cost Reform the seat.
Reform UK's welcoming of Middleton's endorsement highlights the party's efforts to appeal to voters who may be disillusioned with the mainstream parties. However, the move has been widely criticised, and it remains to be seen whether it will pay off in the byelection.
As the election approaches, voters in Makerfield will be keen to see how the parties perform and whether Reform UK's efforts to attract extremist voters will pay off.