MAKERFIELD — Former soldier and television presenter Ant Middleton endorsed Robert Kenyon for the Makerfield byelection. Kenyon is the Reform UK candidate in the byelection, and he shared a video featuring himself alongside Middleton.

In the video, Middleton stated, "Let's get together, vote strategically and put this man in power." He delivered an address at the Reform UK conference in 2024. Reform UK had previously distanced itself from him after he adopted positions characterized as far-right. Kenyon described him as one of his heroes.

Middleton's statements included views on religion and immigration. He stated, "You can't be a Muslim and be in charge of a Christian nation/city." He posted on his X account following violence associated with the murder of Henry Nowak. He shared Restore Britain messaging on X. He also appeared at rallies alongside activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson.

Anna Turley, a Labour MP and Cabinet Office minister, criticized the endorsement. Turley said, "Reform have no shame." She also stated, "Ant Middleton should be nowhere near any political party – he said the mayor of London wasn’t English, he is a convicted criminal and his company failed to pay over £1m in tax that could have been spent on schools and hospitals."

In 2013, Middleton was convicted of unlawfully wounding a police officer outside a nightclub. He was also convicted of common assault against a second police officer during the same incident. He ended his association with Channel 4 in 2021 after public remarks regarding the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter. In 2025, he received a ban from serving as a company director. This ban followed a failure by an associated company to pay more than £1m in taxes.