Reform UK candidate criticized for comments on housing migrants

Sian Astley, a Reform UK candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral race, is facing backlash from rivals for her controversial remarks suggesting that voters supporting other parties should be responsible for housing criminals and rapists. Astley initially made these comments on Facebook, linking them to her party's policy of placing migrant detention centers in areas represented by Green Party MPs or controlled by Green councils.

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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.

Astley defended her stance, stating she stood by her comments and insisted that those advocating for open borders were inadvertently allowing "criminals, economic chancers, rapists" into the country. She described her initial suggestion as a "little bit of tongue in cheek" remark about people getting what they vote for. However, her opponents have strongly condemned her statements. Labour party chair Anna Turley called Reform UK's policy "grotesque" and accused Astley of sharing Nigel Farage's view of punishing communities based on their voting choices, which she argued is a betrayal of democratic principles.

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By backing this proposal, Reform’s candidate has shown she shares Nigel Farage’s view that communities should be rewarded or punished based on how they vote. Threatening to punish places where people don’t vote your way is a betrayal of basic democratic principles.

The comments come as Greater Manchester prepares for a mayoral byelection on July 30, with Labour's Bev Craig considered the favorite. Astley, a businesswoman and leader of the Reform group on Manchester City Council, was seen as a strong candidate for the party. However, her opponents believe her inflammatory remarks on immigration and voters could harm her chances in the diverse Greater Manchester area, home to over 2 million eligible voters. This controversy follows similar issues for Reform UK, as their candidate in the Makerfield byelection faced accusations of misogyny over past comments.

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So, I’m sorry, but if people are attacking me for being angry about that, and for suggesting that – a little bit of tongue in cheek ‘well if you voted for it why don’t you have it?’ – comment, then really they’re getting angry about the wrong thing.