Ant Middleton backs Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in Makerfield byelection
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Context piece
- Ant Middleton, a former soldier and TV presenter, has endorsed Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield byelection.
- The endorsement has drawn criticism, as the party had previously distanced itself from Middleton due to his extreme views.
- Middleton has a history of controversial statements, including comments made after violence in Southampton and anti-Muslim remarks on his social media.
Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate in the Makerfield byelection, has welcomed an endorsement from Ant Middleton, a former soldier and television presenter. This backing has sparked criticism, particularly as the party had previously sought to distance itself from Middleton due to his increasingly extreme public statements. Kenyon shared a video featuring Middleton, whom he described as "one of my heroes." The endorsement comes despite Reform UK's earlier efforts to disassociate from the former SAS star. Middleton has previously faced scrutiny for remarks made in the wake of violence following the murder of Henry Nowak, and has repeatedly used his X account to post anti-Muslim comments. The party's apparent acceptance of his support is seen by some as a bid to attract voters who might align with "Restore Britain" sentiments.
one of my heroes
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Guardian. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
