UK reform candidate from Meriden apologizes for controversial royal family comments

A local UK Reform candidate has apologized for his choice of words after old social media posts comparing the Royal Family to “Nazis” were uncovered by a national newspaper. Malcolm Sedgley, the party’s representative for Meriden and Solihull East admitted that his language was “left-wing” and that he could have articulated his views in a different way.

The Daily Mail revealed that Mr Sedgley said in 2019: “Just because the Royal Family believe they have an almost divine right to rule because of their superior genetics and that the commoners should swear loyalty and show deference to them at every opportunity, no” doesn’t make them Nazis. Oh… wait.

The newspaper also reported another post from 2017 in which the 57-year-old shared a link to a BBC article titled “Tax haven secrets of the ultra-rich exposed”, with a photo of the late Queen.

Read more: Immigration is top concern for Coventry voters, election poll results reveal

Read more: Join the free WhatsApp community CoventryLive

Mr Sedgley said he said: “An OAP on benefits, running an extended family with barely a job between them, manages to save a few pounds and slip them away for a rainy day. What’s wrong with that?”

When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the 2019 post, Mr Sedgley said: “Regarding the first article, I apologize for the language used. It was an attempt to point out, in a slightly clumsy way, that the head of state should not be selected on the basis of bloodlines in the 21st century,” reports Birmingham Live.

The politician commented: “Personally, I’m not very monarchical. However, the majority of the population is, and being a Democrat, I have no problem with the head of state being elected that way if that’s what the people want.”

Asked about his social media activity in 2017, Mr Sedgley explained: “I was responding to a BBC article about how many of the wealthiest in society pay relatively little tax, certainly compared to ordinary people – in terms of a percentage of all the income generated – thanks to numerous tax loopholes. The article used the monarch as an example.

Reform UK has been contacted for a statement about Mr Sedgley’s online remarks. The names of the people contesting the Meriden and Solihull East seats have been announced. Are:

• Sarah Alan – Work
• Saqib Bhatti – conservative
• Malcolm Sedgley – Reform Britain
• Shesh Sheshabhatter – Green
• Sunny Virk – Liberal Democrats

Get daily headlines and breaking news delivered to you by email – it’s FREE