A candidate standing for election to Northumberland County Council has attracted attention after sharing social media posts expressing support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson and controversial internet personality Andrew Tate. Arthur Hume, who is seeking election in the Amble ward and currently serves on the Amble town council, made the posts on Facebook, drawing criticism from local figures and political opponents.

In one post, Mr Hume referred to Tommy Robinson as a "latter Day Enoch Powell" and suggested that Robinson would "ultimately be proven correct by events". A subsequent post alluded to an unspecified incident in the House of Lords with the comment, "I believe a certain Tommy Robinson was telling us all this years ago and was made an enemy of the state, how things change..."

Mr Hume also shared a video of Andrew Tate discussing the education system, accompanying it with the remark: "He has a point, demonised to try and keep him from educating the populous." In the clip, Tate asserts, "we're not allowed to have an opinion as a man" and claims that "we live in a matriarchy".

The revelation prompted questions directed towards Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Morpeth. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Mr Farage said, "I allow different opinions in my party. What I don't allow are people who I think are filled with hate. We have suffered that in the past. We have been pretty strict - we have had some people quite upset because some of the language doesn't meet our criteria." He also reiterated his previous stance distancing himself from Tommy Robinson, stating, "I never wanted Tommy Robinson to join UKIP. I don't want him to join Reform, and he won't be."

Reform UK declined to comment directly on Mr Hume’s posts. Attempts to contact Mr Hume for a response were unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party condemned the posts, saying: “Nigel Farage’s candidate for Amble is a fan of an online extremist woman-hater facing charges for such disturbing allegations as trafficking women and minors, rape and underage sex. He appears to support convicted criminal Tommy Robinson too. If Farage had any respect for the voters of Amble, he’d urgently clarify whether he supports Andrew Tate’s toxic brand of misogyny, and whether Arty Hume’s shocking views are condoned by Reform HQ.”

Mr Farage has addressed Andrew Tate before, observing: “I’m not a fan, but that’s not the point. Is it not possible to have a nuanced debate about why Tate has got 10 million followers? I think it’s rather important that we do, and yet, when I try and raise these things, I’m shouted down as if I’m his right-hand man.”

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court. He founded the English Defence League (EDL), a far-right nationalist group, in 2009. Andrew Tate is currently under investigation in both Romania and the UK over allegations including human trafficking and rape, which he denies. Past statements from Tate have included claims that women “belong in the home” and as "a man's property." Tate has said in a BBC interview that some of his comments were intended as jokes.

The reference to Enoch Powell by Mr Hume invokes the figure of the Conservative MP known primarily for his 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech, which strongly criticised immigration and provoked significant controversy at the time.

The controversy surrounding Mr Hume emerges as he campaigns for election to a local council position, raising questions about the views held by candidates and their potential influence on local governance.

Source: Noah Wire Services