A Reform UK by-election candidate has sparked controversy after describing as “insane” the 18-month jail sentence handed to a man who called for asylum hotels to be set on fire. Matt Goodwin, standing in the Denton and Gorton by-election, reacted to a Daily Mail report about Luke Yarwood, who was jailed for inciting racial hatred over a series of anti-immigration posts on social media.
Yarwood, from Christchurch, Dorset, posted messages between December 2024 and January 2025 urging Britons to “gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter”. He wrote: “Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs' houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.” His lawyer noted that only 33 people had seen the posts, but the court still imposed an 18-month sentence.
Goodwin wrote on X: “Welcome to the UK. Where you go to prison for 18 months for anti-immigration tweets. This is insane.” Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell called on Goodwin to reject support from campaign team members accused of racism. A Reform UK spokesman defended Goodwin, saying: “Criticising the fact that people are being jailed for what they write on social media is clearly not the same as defending those views.”
Goodwin has previously made controversial statements, including suggesting women and young girls need a “biological reality” check over a “fertility crisis”, and proposing extra taxes for childless people. He also described his party’s economic plans as an “utterly toxic combination” in a LinkedIn post three years ago, noting that only 6% of the public backed slashing taxes and cutting spending.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has promised to cut spending and taxes, though he admitted substantial tax cuts were not realistic given the country’s finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said Reform failed to explain how it would achieve its 2024 election pledge of £90bn in tax cuts.
