John Terry sparks backlash appearing to back benefits ban for immigrants | Football | Sport
Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe has won the endorsement of former Chelsea captains John Terry and Dennis Wise over his contentious policy banning foreign nationals from seeking help in the UK. The pair faced significant criticism after publicly stating their support for the former Southampton chairman.
Lowe, who left his post at the Saints twice, when he oversaw the Saints’ relegation in 2005 and when Southampton Leisure Holdings went into administration in 2009, has emerged as an outspoken political figure. The 68-year-old left Nigel Farage’s Reform Party to form Restore, which aims to support the deportation of illegal immigrants, protect British culture and restore Christian values.
Using social media, Lowe laid out one of his key stances. He said: “We should ban foreigners from claiming benefits and eliminate immigrants who cannot support themselves financially; use the billions of dollars saved to cut taxes on the British men and women who keep the economy afloat. Rebuilding Britain will do exactly that and put our own people first. Lastly.”
Former Blues and England stalwart Terry appeared to stand behind the stance wholeheartedly. She wrote in the comments section: “100% yes.”
Former Millwall and Leeds United manager Dennis Wise took his support further, commenting: “200%” Both men faced significant opposition to their views. “Great. Probably if John Terry and Dennis Wise support something it’s probably best to be on their opposite side. Thanks,” one social media user said.
Lowe was recently challenged in Parliament for expressing his desire to prevent foreigners from receiving aid. He claimed the £10.1bn Universal Credit payment in 2024 was ‘gifted to foreign nationals’ and questioned whether the answer was: “Ban all foreigners from getting any benefits, remove immigrants who can’t financially support themselves from our country and give that money back to tax-paying British men and women.”
Andrew Western, Labor MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transformation, said: “The figure he uses is a complete conflation, a serious exaggeration and shows his ignorance if he does not understand that it is impossible to suggest that all of the money was paid directly to foreign nationals.
“The figure it uses is taken from the total number of households with a foreign-born person, and many of the individual applicants may actually be British or Irish citizens.”
