Reform UK Candidate Criticised for Migrant Comments

Sian Astley, a candidate for Reform UK in the Greater Manchester mayoral race, has drawn criticism from political opponents for her recent statements regarding migrants. Astley, who is also a property businesswoman, reiterated her stance that individuals who support open border policies should be responsible for housing "criminals and rapists" who enter the United Kingdom. These comments were initially made in a Facebook post where she shared her party's pledge to prioritize placing migrant detention centers in areas represented by Green Party MPs or controlled by Green Party councils. Astley's remarks have been met with disapproval from rival political parties, who have condemned her rhetoric. The specific date of the initial Facebook post was not provided, but the criticism emerged this week in relation to the ongoing mayoral race.