‘It looks bad’: Reform candidate apologises after being pictured performing Nazi salute
A Reform candidate has apologized after a photo of him giving a Nazi salute appeared online, just hours after it was announced he would stand in the Senedd election in Wales.
Corey Edwards was announced as Reform’s lead candidate for the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency on Wednesday – but within 24 hours, footage of him smiling as he put his finger to his nose and raised his hand in the air emerged online.
Mr Edwards, who worked for former Welsh Secretary David TC Davies between November 2022 and October 2023, is one of 96 candidates put forward by Reform for the Welsh parliamentary elections in which the party is expected to perform well.
However, the photo said to have been taken at least six years ago appeared for the first time This campaign, by Nation Cymru, sparked criticism from opposition parties who questioned the qualifications of the candidates chosen by Nigel Farage’s party. A Plaid Cymru spokesman described the image as “completely disgraceful”.
When Independent When Reformation approached Wales the party issued a statement on behalf of Mr Edwards. In it he said: “A photo was shared from years ago that I realized looked bad and could be misinterpreted.
“There is a clear distinction between the ordinary use of the dreaded gesture and my imitation of a Welsh footballer using it or Basil Fawlty’s walk.
“The Nazi regime was the most barbaric regime ever and I will never underestimate or minimize its severity. My beloved grandfather fought against the Nazis and his brother-in-law was a prisoner of war. “I am a staunch defender of Judaism and I am disturbed to see openly anti-Semitic marches taking place on the streets of Britain recently.
“I am proud of the person I am today and the values I represent, and I hope people will judge me on my professionalism in how I conduct myself as a candidate and the contribution I can make moving forward.”
Welsh footballer Wayne Hennessey said he did not know what a Nazi salute was when he was charged by the FA for making an offensive gesture in 2019. The accusation could not be proven and no punishment was imposed.
According to Mr Edwards’ LinkedIn page, the university law graduate worked as a special adviser in the government’s Cabinet Office in 2022 before working for the then Attorney-General. He then worked for former Welsh Secretary David TC Davies until October 2023.
Asked to comment on the photo, a Reform UK Wales spokesperson said: “We are not prepared to write people off forever for the mistakes they made when they were young.”
A spokesperson for Plaid Cymru said: “This is extremely embarrassing for the Reform candidate and shows exactly what Reform is all about.
“This photo confirms a clear pattern in the caliber of candidates they choose to represent communities. The reform has serious questions to answer about vetting processes across the UK.”
The photo was revealed after Mr Farage said: Policy Home Page He said candidate vetting would be “absolutely important.”
In December, Reform Senedd member Laura Anne Jones was suspended for two weeks by parliament for using offensive language in a WhatsApp group in August 2023.
Ms Jones, who left the Conservative Party last year, commented about the Chinese in a group discussion on the Chinese-owned app TikTok in August 2023: “No spies for me.” He issued an apology for the comment.
The same month, Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements while a member of the European Parliament.
Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas has announced the candidate list for the Senedd elections to be held on 7 May.
Writing on social media, he said: “After 100 years of failure, Labor is over in Wales. The choice this election is a new start with common sense and Reform, or independence by stealth with Plaid Cymru.”
