Comments made by a candidate at a Newark election debate have been condemned as ‘racist and disgusting’.
The English Democrats’ candidate for Newark, Matthew Darrington, drew gasps from the audience when he aired his views during a hustings last night (June 27) organised by Newark Business Club.
Candidates were asked about the building of new homes and if Newark had sufficient infrastructure to sustain an increased population.
Mr Darrington, said: “In truth, I think there is too many people here anyway.
“With a quarter of the population being foreign-born now, and half of London’s social housing being filled with, you know, non-indigenous people I’m sure we could make a little bit of room by sending the majority of these people back – especially those who do not work or pay into the system, because they are just drains on society.”
He added: “And create programmes to encourage more white British families to have more children.”
His remarks drew groans and gasps from the audience.
The comments were swiftly condemned by the Liberal Democrat David Watts, who said: “Racism is utterly wrong and the comments from the English Nationalists or whatever you’re called were disgusting, and you should be ashamed.”
Later in the debate, Mr Darrington again shocked the audience when asked about defence spending and support. He said: “I think the meaning of ‘defence of the realm’ should mean defence of the United Kingdom, not its interests abroad.
“Whatever foreign policies have been going on, either way we have poked our noses in so many businesses, we have made so many enemies, the number is astronomical.
“The best part is we invite all these different cultures to live here. Look at the Palestinian lot, and how many hundreds of thousands turn out to the protests because we are backing Israel.
“What sort of suicidal policy do we have to back one side and invite the enemies to live here from another?
“Keep our noses out of everyone’s business and we will be fine.”
Answering a question about how to support the young, Mr Darrington said: “The youth are growing up more divided than they have ever been.
“I think nationalising the youth and giving them a unified direction is the biggest change we can give the youth, creating a single nation again.”
He added that parents needed to teach their children ‘what it means to be British’.
At the end of the debate, candidates were each given 90 seconds to summarise their points and have a final say.
Mr Darrington urged the public to ‘keep Labour and the Lib Dems out’, and endorsed the Conservative Robert Jenrick, claiming he was the strongest candidate.
The hustings was attended by; Adrian Amer (Independent) Matthew Darrington (English Democrats) Lyn Galbraith (Independent) Robert Jenrick (Conservative) Robert Palmer (Reform UK) and David Watts (Liberal Democrat). Missing was Michael Ackroyd (Green) Saj Ahmad (Labour) and Collan Siddique (Workers Party of Britain).
