GREATER MANCHESTER — Sian Astley, the Reform UK candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral race, has defended social media posts that advocated placing migrant detention centers in areas that voted Green. Astley, who leads the Reform group on Manchester City Council, told the Manchester Evening News she stood by her comments.

Reform UK announced a policy in May stating that a Reform government would prioritize placing migrant detention centers in areas where the Green party held an MP seat or controlled the local council. Under this policy, no migrant detention facilities would be located in areas with a Reform-controlled council or MP.

Astley previously posted on Facebook: "How very democratic a policy. You get what you vote for." She also wrote: "Personally I'd just ensure the Green voters, uniparty MPs (present or past) and Cllrs house the illegal criminals, rapists and economic chancers, so it's nice of Reform UK to offer to build accommodation instead."

Anna Turley, the Labour party chair, criticized the comments. Turley said Reform's "grotesque policy" revealed the party's contempt for all voters, including their own. She added: "By backing this proposal, Reform's candidate has shown she shares Nigel Farage's view that communities should be rewarded or punished based on how they vote." Turley further stated: "Threatening to punish places where people don't vote your way is a betrayal of basic democratic principles."

Addressing the criticism, Astley said: "So, I'm sorry, but if people are attacking me for being angry about that, and for suggesting that – a little bit of tongue in cheek 'well if you voted for it why don't you have it?' – comment, then really they're getting angry about the wrong thing." The Greater Manchester mayoral byelection is scheduled for July 30, with Bev Craig running as the Labour candidate.