Sian Astley, the Reform UK candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral race, has doubled down on controversial comments suggesting that voters who support other parties should be responsible for housing criminals and rapists entering the country. The property businesswoman initially made the remarks in a Facebook post in May, where she shared her party's policy to prioritize placing migrant detention centres in areas with Green Party MPs or council control.
Astley's Facebook Post
In the post, 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.” The policy, announced by Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf, would ensure no detention centres are placed in areas with Reform-controlled councils or MPs.
Labour Criticism
Labour party chair Anna Turley criticized Astley, stating that Reform's “grotesque policy” reveals contempt for all voters. Turley said: “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.”
Astley's Defense
Rather than backing down, Astley told the Manchester Evening News that she stands by her comments. She insisted that those advocating “open borders” are exposing 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.”
Election Context
The Greater Manchester mayoral byelection is scheduled for 30 July, triggered after Andy Burnham won the parliamentary byelection in Makerfield and is expected to become Labour leader and prime minister. Labour's candidate, Bev Craig, is the favourite to win. Astley, leader of the Reform group on Manchester city council, was considered a strong choice when unveiled last month. She previously appeared on BBC One's DIY SOS and BBC Two's Your Home Made Perfect before entering politics.
Reform's candidate in the Makerfield byelection, Robert Kenyon, faced accusations of misogyny over past comments. Astley's opponents believe her immigration comments could cost her in Greater Manchester, a diverse area where over 2 million people are eligible to vote in what will be Britain's biggest byelection.
