Sian Astley, the Reform UK candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, has defended a controversial Facebook post in which she suggested that Green voters and politicians should house 'illegal criminals, rapists and economic chancers' if they support open borders. Speaking exclusively to the Manchester Evening News, Astley stood by her comments, arguing that her words reflected the reality of an open borders policy.
Astley's Facebook Post and Defence
In May, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf announced that a Reform UK government would not build immigration detention centres in seats held by the party's MPs or where they control the local authority, instead stating that Green voters will 'get what they vote for'. Sharing the policy on Facebook, Astley wrote: '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.'
When asked about the post, Astley told the Manchester Evening News: 'If you are an advocate for open borders then you are opening up this country to exactly that - criminals, economic chancers, rapists. That's not me making that up. That is evidenced by court cases and incidents across the UK.' She added: 'I think you've got to understand that people out there in our region are really worried. They're worried about the illegal immigrants coming in. We've no idea who these, mostly men, are.'
Green Party Response
A spokesperson for the Green Party condemned Astley's remarks, stating: 'This underlines the divisive nature of Reform. No compassion, no humanity, just hatred and division. They are obviously realising their hatred isn't welcome in Greater Manchester, as they have asked their campaigners to focus on arguing with a man with a bin on his head in Clacton instead.'
Astley's Background and Campaign Promises
A long-standing south Manchester landlady and Reform UK councillor elected in May, Astley runs a design and property business. She has promised to 'open up the books on contracts Andy Burnham awarded during his time as Labour's Mayor' if elected. The interview with Astley, conducted at her home in Fallowfield, will be published in full on the Manchester Evening News YouTube channel in the coming days.
Mayoral Hustings and Voter Reactions
The Manchester Evening News hosted a mayoral hustings at Chetham's School of Music, where six candidates faced a packed hall. Political editor Rob Williams rated the performances, with Green Party candidate Geraldine Coggins scoring the highest at 8.5 out of 10, followed by Astley with 7.5. However, audience members expressed dissatisfaction, with one attendee, Linda Hazeldine, saying: 'All we heard about was housing, housing, housing. There wasn't a mention of Salford. They all spoke but they didn't say anything.'
The hustings covered topics including affordable housing, immigration, and women's rights. Williams noted that while there were clear dividing lines, the debate felt less performative than usual, with candidates engaging directly on the issues.
