Reform UK’s candidate in the Makerfield byelection has come under fire for welcoming an endorsement from Ant Middleton, the former soldier and TV presenter whom the party had previously distanced itself from due to his increasingly extreme views.
Endorsement Sparks Controversy
Robert Kenyon shared a video featuring Middleton, whom he described as “one of my heroes.” Middleton has previously made inflammatory statements, including praising violence after the murder of Henry Nowak and repeatedly posting anti-Muslim comments on his X account. His remarks include: “You can’t be a Muslim and be in charge of a Christian nation/city” and “1st, 2nd & 3rd generation immigrants should not hold top-tier government positions.”
Party’s Shifting Stance
The former special forces soldier addressed the Reform UK conference in 2024 and was even considered as a potential London mayoral candidate. However, the party later sought to distance itself as Middleton adopted increasingly far-right positions. He has appeared alongside far-right activist Tommy Robinson at rallies. Despite this, Reform UK’s welcome for Middleton in Makerfield may be a strategic move to counter pressure from Restore Britain, the party launched by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
Anna Turley MP, Labour chair and Cabinet Office minister, condemned the endorsement, stating: “Reform have no shame. Their last byelection candidate was endorsed by Tommy Robinson and now Rob Kenyon is delighted to have the backing of a man who was jailed for assaulting two police officers.” She added: “Ant Middleton should be nowhere near any political party – he said the mayor of London wasn’t English, he is a convicted criminal and his company failed to pay over £1m in tax that could have been spent on schools and hospitals.”
Middleton’s Controversial Past
Middleton was convicted in 2013 of unlawful wounding of a police officer and common assault on another outside a nightclub. In 2025, he was banned from being a company director after his company failed to pay more than £1m in tax. He parted ways with Channel 4 in 2021 after controversial comments on the pandemic and Black Lives Matter.
Impact on Byelection
Restore Britain, the hard-right party founded by Rupert Lowe after his fallout with Nigel Farage, is expected to come third in the Makerfield election. A leaked poll circulated among Labour staffers and published by the i newspaper suggests Restore Britain could cost Reform the seat, with Lowe’s party on 13%, Reform on 24%, and Labour on 35%. Middleton’s rhetoric aligns more closely with Restore Britain, and he has shared their messaging on X. Sharing a pledge to deport millions, he said: “An English mayor of London will help flush them out to our shores for ease of deportation.” However, in the video with Kenyon, he urged: “Let’s get together, vote strategically and put this man in power.”
