Reform UK candidate seen doing Nazi salute steps down

A Reform UK candidate for the upcoming Senedd election has stepped down after he was pictured appearing to perform a Nazi salute, the party has confirmed. It comes just a day after party leader Nigel Farage backed candidate Corey Edwards , stating that he would not be kicked out of the party as a result of the picture. Former Conservative Corey Edwards was standing for Reform UK in the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency. He was the party's top candidate for the constituency. The picture, first published by Nation Cymru , appears to show him smiling while he holds a finger under his nose to mimic a moustache while holding his other hand raised.

The image appears to be cropped and there is no context attached to it. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here On Friday afternoon, a day after the image was first shared, Reform UK confirmed Edwards was stepping down as a candidate due to "issues with his mental health". A Reform UK spokesperson said in a statement: "Corey Edwards has informed us that he is stepping down as a candidate for the Senedd election this May, citing issues with his mental health.

"We wish him well for the future and hope his privacy can be respected at this difficult time." On Thursday, Mr Farage said the photo of Edwards looked terrible and he "wouldn't approve of it" but he said Edwards would not be kicked out of the party. The party leader said he was impersonating Basil Fawlty, although a statement from Edwards suggested he had also been impersonating Welsh footballer Wayne Hennessey. In an interview with ITV News, Mr Farage said: "It was a Fawlty Towers impression. Maybe we should ban the BBC , I don't know". Asked if he would be kicked out of the party, he said: "No. He's a human being." "I get the point - it looks terrible. Things in isolation often do.

I wouldn't approve of it." Reform UK previously said the party was "not willing to write people off forever because of mistakes they made when they were young.” A separate statement previously issued Edwards appeared to suggest he had been imitating both Basil Fawlty and Wayne Hennessey, the latter of whom was previously involved in controversy over an alleged Nazi salute in 2019, which he denied at the time. A charge against the Welsh footballer was ultimately found not proven. The image was first published on Thursday - a day after Reform UK published its full list of candidates ahead of the election on May 7.

Mr Edwards worked for former Welsh Secretary David TC Davies between November, 2022, and October, 2023. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice