Tory Candidate In Clacton Says Reform Rallies Are "Reminiscent" Of "Nuremberg" Rallies

The Conservative candidate going up against Nigel Farage in Clacton on 4 July has described Reform UK rallies as “reminiscent of the big rallies at Nuremberg” where Adolf Hitler addressed supporters of the Nazi Party.

Watling, who has been the MP for the Essex seat since 2017, said recent rallies are “chilling” and a “very un-British way of doing things”. 

He told PoliticsHome: “I’m not ascribing any of these sort of things to Nigel Farage himself but the method, the process is just sort of reminiscent of the big rallies at Nuremberg with people standing to one side. It’s a personality cult that’s been created.”

He added: “There may be no evil intent, but it feels wrong and bad."

Watling said there was “beautiful irony” that there has been "defacement" of his campaign posters by people "painting over my face and turning me into Adolf Hitler".

Farage told PoliticsHome: "Watling shows contempt for the thousands of decent people who turned up in Birmingham yesterday and those who come to my rallies in Clacton. They are decent, law abiding citizens. How dare he insult them like that."

On Sunday Farage, who is expected to be elected as an MP for the first time at Thursday's General Election, held a rally in front of a crowd of an estimated 5,000 Reform supporters at the Birmingham NEC.

He received chants of “Nigel!” and supporters wearing t-shirts and masks with his face on. The party’s chief executive, Paul Oakden, opened the event saying: “Make Britain Great Again" — mimicking Donald Trump's "Make American Great Again" slogan.

Farage announced early in the election campaign that he was taking over as Reform leader, replacing the party's now-president Richard Tice. The party has risen in the polls since that announcement and has