Reform candidate quits Senedd election after appearing to do Nazi salute

A leading Reform candidate who appeared to perform a Nazi salute in a photo has quit ahead of the Welsh Parliament election.

Corey Edwards, a former Conservative special adviser, was only announced as his party's lead candidate in the constituency of Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg on Wednesday.

After the picture was published his party leader Nigel Farage stood by Edwards, conceding the image "looked terrible" and he "wouldn't approve of it" but said he would not be kicked out of the party.

On Friday a Reform UK spokesman said Edwards had informed the party he was stepping down as a candidate "citing issues with his mental health".

"We wish him well for the future and hope his privacy can be respected at this difficult time," the spokesman added.

Edwards was previously a special adviser to Conservative Welsh Secretary David TC Davies.

Being named the party's lead candidate for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg meant if the party won a seat in the Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan constituency he would have been certain to be elected.

An initial statement from Edwards appeared to suggested he had been both imitating the sitcom character Basil Fawlty as well as former Welsh international goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who was involved in a row over an alleged Nazi salute in 2019 which he denied at the time.

A charge against the footballer was found not proven.

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