Sian Astley, the Reform UK candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral race, has refused to back down from comments suggesting that voters who support other parties should house criminals and rapists entering the UK. The property businesswoman initially made the remarks in a Facebook post, sharing her party's policy that a Reform government would prioritise placing migrant detention centres in areas represented by the Green Party or where Greens control the local council.
Under the policy, announced in May by Reform's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf, no such facilities would be built in areas with a Reform-controlled council or MP. Astley's post read: 'How very democratic a policy. You get what you vote for. 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 Criticism and Democratic Concerns
Labour Party chair Anna Turley condemned Astley, stating that Reform's 'grotesque policy' reveals the party's contempt for all voters, including their own. '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,' Turley said.
Rather than apologising, Astley told the Manchester Evening News that she stood by her comments. She insisted that those who advocate 'open borders' are opening the country to 'exactly that – criminals, economic chancers, rapists'. Astley added: '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.'
Byelection Context and Candidate Profile
The Greater Manchester mayoral byelection will be held on 30 July, triggered after Andy Burnham won the parliamentary byelection in Makerfield. Labour's candidate Bev Craig is the favourite to win. Astley, who leads the Reform group on Manchester City Council, was considered a strong choice by the party when unveiled as candidate last month. She previously appeared on BBC One's DIY SOS and BBC Two's Your Home Made Perfect before entering politics.
Astley's comments come after Reform's candidate in the Makerfield byelection, Robert Kenyon, faced accusations of misogyny over past sexually explicit comments. Her opponents believe her remarks about immigration and voters could cost her in Greater Manchester, a diverse area where more than 2 million people are eligible to vote in what will be Britain's biggest byelection.
