Former Tory Councillor Joins Right-Wing Advance UK Party

A former Conservative councillor from Walsall, Jade Chapman, has officially joined the right-wing political party Advance UK. This announcement follows her resignation from the Conservative Party on September 18, 2023, a decision made shortly after her participation in the Tommy Robinson Unite the Kingdom march in London on September 13.

Chapman, who represents the Rushall-Shelfield ward, cited concerns over the treatment of British citizens in her resignation statement. She claimed that British people are “being pushed to the back of the queue” when it comes to accessing essential services such as housing, benefits, and healthcare. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she expressed her discontent with current equality and diversity initiatives, stating, “I have watched our British people become not just tolerant but suppressed.”

Advance UK, a relatively new party led by Ben Habib, former deputy leader of Reform UK, has garnered attention due to its controversial stance and associations, particularly with figures like Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Critics have labeled the party as far-right, primarily based on its policies and the sentiments expressed by its leadership.

Chapman’s decision to join Advance UK comes as the party faces challenges, including a recent cancellation of its launch event at a hotel in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The venue’s owners, the labour-led Newcastle City Council, cited “health and safety grounds” for the cancellation. Despite this setback, Chapman emphasized the party’s commitment to free speech and its aim to provide a platform for people to voice their concerns without fear of backlash.

“For too long, no mainstream party has been willing to truly defend free speech,” she remarked. “Advance UK is the first party I’ve seen that refuses to silence ordinary people or shame them for raising concerns.” Chapman believes that many citizens feel stifled in discussing pressing issues, which she argues is detrimental to a healthy democracy.

With this move, Chapman aligns herself with what she describes as a party that stands for “honesty, courage, and the protection of British values.” As the political landscape in the UK continues to evolve, her shift to Advance UK reflects broader trends in voter sentiment and party affiliation.

The implications of her departure from the Conservative Party and her new alliance with Advance UK could resonate within the local and national political arenas, prompting discussions on the direction of right-wing politics in the UK.