Reform councillor defends links to anti-immigration Portsmouth Patriots group

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 17:30 · Archive

A Reform UK councillor has admitted supporting the Portsmouth Patriots, an anti-immigration group, after undercover journalists infiltrated the party.

An undercover ITV investigation has revealed links between Reform UK activists and the Portsmouth Patriots, an anti-immigration group. George Madgwick, Reform's leader on Hampshire County Council and a senior campaign manager, was named in the documentary after secret filming of his involvement with the group.

Madgwick admitted supporting the Patriots 'from the sidelines' but denied being a member. He defended the local leadership, describing them as 'good people' and 'decent, passionate, local residents who care deeply about their community'. He acknowledged that 'outside third parties have come in and done some abhorrent things' in the group's name.

The ITV programme documented disturbing conduct associated with the Patriots. At one of their rallies, a Nazi salute was filmed. At a protest march the group helped steward in April, people were filmed chanting racist abuse. The documentary also captured racist slurs, threats of violence and disturbing comments about women, though the exact context and who made these remarks is not specified in the available reporting.

Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth strongly criticised both Madgwick and Reform UK. A spokesperson said Madgwick 'made it clear that he supports the far-right Portsmouth Patriots' and that members of the group 'helped with flyering on behalf of Reform UK during the local elections in May'.

Madgwick criticised the undercover reporting method, calling it 'an entirely disgusting invasion of personal privacy' and saying the journalists 'met my dogs' after being allowed into his home. The Southern Daily Echo reports that Reform's leader was considering legal action over police restrictions at a protest, though the connection to this investigation is unclear from the available text.

How it is being reported

• Portsmouth councillor’s links to controversial patriots group revealed in ITV investigationRecordings capture disturbing comments from elected councillors as Reform UK faces questions over its vetting proceduresThe News, Portsmouth · 16 Oct, 17:18
• Hampshire Reform councillor George Madgwick defends Patriots links after ITV exposéRacist slurs, threats of violence and disturbing comments about women feature in an undercover ITV investigation that also examines Hampshire councillor George Madgwick’s links to the Portsmouth Patriots.Bordon Herald · 16 Oct, 17:18
• Reform councillor defends support for Portsmouth Patriots after investigationA Reform UK councillor from Portsmouth has admitted supporting an anti-immigration group and has claimed election interference after journalists infiltrated the party.Southern Daily Echo · 16 Oct, 11:38

In this story: George Madgwick · Reform UK · Portsmouth Patriots · Hampshire County Council · Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth · ITV · Portsmouth · Hampshire

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