A Reform candidate says he has no intention of standing down, despite an article in the national press revealing he was once arrested for ‘attempted murder’.
An article published today in The Sun makes a series of claims about the Newark General Election candidate Robert Palmer.
It has led to Conservative candidate Robert Jenrick calling for him to withdraw from the electoral race.
Mr Jenrick demanded Reform leader Nigel Farage remove Mr Palmer from the party, saying: “This man should not be standing for Parliament. He’s not fit for office. Nigel Farage should stand him down today.”
In response Mr Palmer admitted he was a flawed man who had made mistakes, but said the accusations against him related to incidents which took place years ago. He said he was a changed man and no longer drinks following the death of his father.
According to The Sun, Mr Palmer was was once arrested for ‘attempted murder’ after a man fell in the River Trent during an altercation at the Reform candidate’s home in Fiskerton.
The article, which quoted village residents, claims Mr Palmer had also repeatedly been barred from the village pub, The Bromley.
On one occasion it was alleged that he sat naked at the bar drinking pints, and once walked into the pub armed with a chainsaw.
Speaking with the Advertiser, Mr Palmer said: “I have no intention of standing down and all those who support me expect me to have tougher skin than a few stories about living next to a pub for 30 years.
“As the only local candidate in the race, I expected skeletons to be brought out from my past and stories to be told.
“Some of them are true, some are exaggerated but I stand by them all. I am a flawed man and I have made many mistakes. The one good thing to come from my embarrassment is that you all know I am human and approachable.
“Over the years I have become a reformed character, learning lessons along the way. The antics of my youth are long behind me.
He added: “It is the truth to say you know when you are near the mark because they come for you. Well, my friends I am on the mark, a vote for the Conservatives in Newark is a wasted vote.
“The Conservatives are now out the race. It matters not how much they raise the high jinks of my youth, voters are set on Reform.”
The UK General Election is scheduled to take place on July 4.
The candidates confirmed for the Newark constituency are (listed alphabetically):
• Michael Ackroyd - Green Party
• Saj Ahmad - Labour
• Adrian Amer - Independent
• Matthew Darrington - English Democrats
• Lyn Galbraith - Independent
• Robert Jenrick - Conservative
• Robert Palmer - Reform UK
• Collan Siddique - Workers Party of Britain
• David Watts -Liberal Democrats
