Photo emerges of prominent Reform Senedd election candidate performing Nazi salute
Emily Price
A photograph has emerged of a prominent Reform UK Senedd election candidate performing a Nazi salute.
On Wednesday (March 25), the party led in Wales by former London councillor Dan Thomas unveiled its full slate of Senedd election hopefuls ahead of the May 7 poll.
The list came with just 15 days to go until the deadline due to the party carrying out what it described as a “brutal and intrusive” vetting process to pick candidates.
Opposition politicians warned that Reform had left their announcement until weeks before the election because they were avoiding scrutiny.
Former special advisor to the secretary state for Wales, Corey Edwards, was announced as the Reform’s lead candidate for the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency.
Edward’s LinkedIn states that he worked for former Welsh Secretary David TC Davies between November 2022 and October 2023.
However it is understood he left the Wales Office in February 2023.
Edward’ s LinkedIn also states that prior to this, he held a number of other roles in Westminster including as a special advisor to His Majesty’s Attorney General for three months in 2022 and as special advisor in the cabinet office for seven months.
There has been knowledge within Conservative circles for at least six years of an image of Edwards holding a finger to his top lip with his other arm raised in the air in a Nazi style salute.
The gesture, adopted in 1930s Nazi Germany, was used to signify obedience to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
Where the photo was taken and what prompted Edwards to make the hand gesture is not known.
‘Disgraceful’
We asked Reform UK if the party was aware of the offensive image of Edwards – but we did not receive a response.
Following the publication of our story, Edward posted a video statement to X saying his political opponents were “digging up dirt” from his distant past.
He said: “I’ve made mistakes in the past, and I’ve done things then that I wouldn’t do today.
“I left school at 16 with no job lined up. I didn’t see many opportunities for people like me in the world – and I would fool around trying to get attention, trying to feel some love and trying to feel some value.
“I’ve since turned my life around – I’ve gone on to work for three Prime Ministers in the heart of government.
“This things I did way back when don’t reflect who I am today. I did lose my way and found myself in difficult times.”
Reform’s leader Nigel Farage was later quizzed on the photo by an ITV journalist.
He defended Edwards saying the Senedd candidate had been imitating Basil Fawlty.
‘Disgraceful’
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: “This is utterly disgraceful from the Reform candidate, and shows exactly what Reform are about.
“On the back of one of their Members of the Senedd being banned for racism, and Reform candidates in Scotland facing controversy for racism and fraud – this photo confirms a clear pattern in the calibre of candidates they’re selecting to represent communities.
“Reform have serious questions to answer regarding their vetting process across the UK.
“They aren’t fit to be anywhere near power here in Wales.
“Poll after poll has shown this election in Wales is a straight fight between Plaid Cymru or Reform, and the choice this May couldn’t be any different: Reform’s chaos and divison or Plaid Cymru’s ambition for our communities.
“Plaid are the only party that can stop Reform, Welsh people should elect a government that will put our communities first – not use the Senedd as Farage’s stepping stone to no.10 Downing Street.”
‘Noise’
A Welsh Labour source said: “Reform have been making a lot of noise about their vetting process, but clearly it’s about a robust as their policies.
“If this is the sort of behaviour they deem worthy of being top of their lists, then they have a lot of questions to answer.
“What else are their candidates hiding? Farage and his followers are trying to take Welsh voters for fools.”
Announcing Reform’s list of candidates yesterday evening, leader Dan Thomas described the line up as a “fresh start” for Wales.
He said: “This evening we have unveiled a full slate of candidates for the Senedd Election.
“After 100 years of failure, Labour are finished in Wales. The choice at this election is what comes next
“Common sense and a fresh start with Reform, or independence by stealth with Plaid Cymru.”
‘Chaos’
It came as some members of Reform UK warned of growing “chaos” behind the scenes as infighting erupted over the party’s choice of candidates for the Welsh election.
Reform sources told Nation.Cymru that the party had “stopped supporting candidates who have been working in their constituencies for months and years” and had instead “shipped in new candidates from outside those constituencies” to support Thomas.
Merthyr Tydfil Councillor Andrew Barry quit the party citing anger over “parachuting” individuals into seats from outside the local area.
Barry – who defected to Reform UK during a keynote speech by Nigel Farage last year – also criticised the substantial number of Conservative defectors the party had welcomed.
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Yeah, Reform, where Nazi’s (and by default, racists) feel safe.
Now lets see what the other farage puppets have done.
Who or what is this entity from hell making a Nazi salute from,it is damned disgusting,and should not be allowed to take up any post of the kind in Welsh Politics.
Gosh – WHAT a surprise …
Reform Ltd: A fresh start – provided by and for the same old Tory faces and Neo-Nazis parachuted in.
This is inline with exactly what Reform is FASCISTS
Andrew Barry’s concerns are particularly valid.
There’s a gap and a need for a capable non-lefist alternative to Labour in Wales but Reform have shot themseves in the foot by not building on their local support and platforming ex Tories.
Oh well, nevermind.
Reform shot themselves in the foot? They are what they are and do not deserve to be near power. Their local support is what that lad is doing.
To think that there are people in our communities that actually support these types is quite sickening.
Remember, Nigel Farage and others in Reform insisted they would have rigorous vetting of candidates for the Senedd election. This now looks to be in doubt.
Reform is full of brown shirted ex-tories it seems. Or do we call them incels these days? I’ve lost track.
But it doesn’t surprise me to learn of his links to Top Cat Davies.
What did surprise me was the lack of names like Caroline Jones on the list. Maybe she was too effective for them as a MS last time.
Caroline Jones was an apallingly low quality speaker and MS. Removing her is one of the few decisions of Farage/Squeege/Desparate Dan Thomas that I agree with! Was her husband sending out poison pen letters in an attempt to advance her career in both Parc prison and Senedd?
You mean…. a party whose leader engages in depraved fantasies about mass murdering Jews in gas chambers might be populated by wannabe domestic terrorists? I’m shocked and appalled by such a scandalous implication!
Well, well—now this is awkward for Reform Wales “leader” Dan Thomas, isn’t it? There goes the wholesome family man image—hello, Third Reich. No doubt Nigel Farage has put out a statement saying he was merely photographed mid-sneeze and has an intolerance to pollen.
Pollen…. and Jews.
To add: If Nazi-saluting Corey Edwards Senedd Cymru candidacy is the result of Reform UK vetting, God help Wales if these fascist clowns ever get into government. Reform are already putting up council tax in England, and its wet-behind-the-ears 19 year old leader of Warwickshire County Council, George Finch, has recently spent £190,000 on three political advisers after promising rate payers to cut waste. Bigots and blaggards.
Share on your social media, so that more people know what the Reform company believe in.
“Common sense and a fresh start with Reform, or independence by stealth with Plaid Cymru.”
Common sense? Fresh start? Hahahaha, hehehehe! Oh my aching sides! Oooh my wet pants!