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| John Edwards, Reform UK Candidate for Southampton Test Photo used with permission: John Edwards |
UPDATED (27/6/24): The Reform UK Party Leader has said today, as reported by the BBC, that:
"Asked about offensive remarks made by some of his party's candidates, Farage admits that they have "had people say things that I'd rather they'd not".
"Politics sometimes attracts people who are a bit rough around the edges," he says."
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The BBC's Laura Kuennsberg, presenter of Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg and former political editor of the BBC, has published an article naming John Edwards, the Reform UK candidate for Southampton Test at the 2024 General Election.
Offensive remarks have been seen by the BBC, says Kuennsberg's article. They are from eight Reform UK candidates, of which Mr Edwards is one. The article says:
"John Edwards, the candidate for Southampton Test, referred to women appearing on ITV2's Love Island as 'thick tarts' and the former leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson as a 'gobby bird'."
When asked by Southampton Independents, in our six basic questions sent to all candidates, why he is standing for Reform UK, Mr Edwards told us:
"Reform UK ideals match my own."
So that Southampton residents can be informed and make up their own minds about the article, and his comments, Mr Edwards has been asked to comment, as have all other Southampton Test candidates.
UPDATE: 24/6/24 no comment has yet been received from Mr Edwards. The Daily Echo has reported, when asked about the Kuennsberg alleged comments, and others too, that he has claimed that the Twitter account with which he has been associated was "hacked":
"When the Echo contacted Mr Edwards regarding these posts, he said they were “not on his account, with the exception of one, which is now deleted”.
Mr Edwards added: “This is clearly the work [of] hackers out to discredit our party.
“The account is closed as stated. I do not know the date of the hacking. All I know [is] that there is data missing. A new account has been set up.
“For me, it's back to proper campaigning talking about things that matter to voters.”"
Candidates approached includes Wajahat Shaukat, the Workers Party of Great Britain candidates, who until recently had no contact details published. Alex Culley, the Southampton Itchen Reform UK candidate, was asked for comment. He declined to comment when asked, passing us to Mr Edwards' comments above.
The Independent has reported that the firm asked to do the vetting of Reform UK candiates, Vetting.com, denies "stitching up" Reform UK. The Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage has threatened to report them to the Police and is pursuing legal action.
Why Southampton Independents Is Covering the 2024 General Election
Southampton Independents recommends no particular candidate in the 2024 General Election. We publish this information and the information about the other candidates to help inform Southampton residents for their vote, or for them to choose not to vote or to positively spoil their ballot by writing "none of the above". It's your choice.
The other candidates for Southampton Test, with their answers to our questions, are here.
Tell us what you think by commenting or getting in touch.
