Latest news with #Sarah Pochin
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
It's no surprise we are seeing vigilante groups on Britain's streets, warn Reform women who dub themselves 'Farage's Fillies'
It is 'no surprise' we are seeing vigilante groups on Britain's streets, Reform UK's newest MP has said. Sarah Pochin said groups of British men are 'mobilising themselves into guardian angel-style street patrols' due to the threat posed to women's safety by immigration. The Runcorn and Helsby MP made the comments at a female-only Reform press conference today, led by the party's senior women who have dubbed themselves 'Farage's Fillies'. Reform's only female MP said Labour is overseeing a 'betrayal of our women and girls' due to its failure to stop asylum seekers with 'medieval views' about women arriving on small boats. She said: 'It's no wonder that we're now hearing about groups of concerned British men mobilising themselves into guardian angel style street patrols.' Reform's first female MP Sarah Pochin, who won May's Runcorn and Helsby by-election, said it is 'no surprise' we are seeing vigilante groups on Britain's streets She praised 'street patrols out there to protect their daughters, their girlfriends, their wives, even their mothers' and added: 'And why wouldn't they be when we hear that these illegal migrants are loitering around schools, around parks, men with deplorable attitudes towards women.' Ms Pochin claimed the problem posed by migrants arriving on small boats was a 'national security' issue and threatens the safety of women and girls. She said: 'The inconvenient truth for the left is that the culture of men from predominantly Muslim countries like Afghanistan is one that holds a medieval view of women's rights. 'Women are at risk of sexual assault and rape from these men, hundreds of young men who arrive in this country, housed in our communities, who undoubtedly become sexually frustrated, have a warped view of their right to sexually assault women.' Her comments came at a press conference for Women for Reform as the party seeks to attract female voters concerned about immigration in what has been dubbed a 'march of the mums'. Also speaking at the press conference was Laila Cunningham, a Westminster councillor who recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK. Laila Cunningham, a Westminster councillor who recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, said the party stands with 'every vigilante mum out there' The mother-of-seven - a former CPS prosecutor - explained how she was labelled a 'vigilante mum' after tracking down muggers who targeted her children as she said that 'Britain is now lawless'. Ms Cunningham said: 'Our country has changed - I remember a time when calling the police meant they would come. Now, when my kids were robbed, the police told me there weren't enough resources to send someone. 'I had to do the dangerous legwork myself over many weeks to catch the criminals. I risked my life and the press called me a vigilante mum.' She added that Reform stands with 'every vigilante mum out there' and: 'For every parent who feels sick with worry when their kids leave the house, for every parent who has been looked down on, ignored, insulted or worse silenced.' Labour criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for opposing the Online Safety Act and Crime and Policing Bill, which includes measures designed to tackle violence against women and girls. A spokesman added: 'If Farage's Party wanted to be taken seriously when it comes to tackling the scourge of violence against women and girls, they wouldn't have tried to block Labour's new laws to crack down on perpetrators of such vile criminality and get justice for victims.'
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Runcorn MP's claims about street's 'problems' anger residents
Angry residents have criticised their MP after she claimed their street had been blighted by violence and anti-social behaviour caused by illegal Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire, said in a video posted on Facebook she had received "disturbing reports" from residents and businesses about incidents happening in Greenway Road, said this portrayal of their street was "untrue" while Cheshire Constabulary said it had received no such hit back at some of the criticism, condemning what she described as "baseless accusations", "personal attacks" and "political smears". The MP made claims in her video about houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) housing immigrants causing violence, anti-social behaviour, rubbish "strewn around the streets" and "potential domestic abuse". But an open letter written by the warden of St Michael and All Angels church, Robert Littler, claimed Pochin was trying to fulfil a "personal agenda".Mr Littler, who has lived in the street for 30 years, accused the MP of "scaremongering and hate-stirring and talking down a town which you were elected to represent". He added: "My own daughters, aged 27, 20 and 18 respectively, walk our family dog at all hours of the night and feel very safe."Mr Littler said the HMOs had existed for years, housing many types of people, "mostly white British".He suggested Pochin could not know if there were any illegal immigrants in the properties unless she asked for their Delaney, 74, who has lived on Greenway Road for nearly 40 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service Pochin did not speak for her."The only anti-social behaviour I've witnessed is high-spirited teenagers who tend to grow out of it," she Collins-Powell, 47, who has lived on the road for eight years, added: "We are a lovely community. Not anything that she has said is real. The HMOs don't cause any problems." Meetings planned A Cheshire Police spokesman said issues highlighted in the video did not match any incidents reported to the force, or to residents' added that Chief Constable Mark Roberts had contacted Pochin several times since she was elected and said they would meet on 4 said the open letter "contains numerous falsehoods, personal attacks, and political smears that bear no resemblance to the reality on the ground". She added she was first made aware of issues on Greenway Road "because local residents and business owners contacted me directly. Their concerns included problems with HMOs and anti-social behaviour". "I will not apologise for listening to residents, raising their concerns, or pushing for action," she Reform MP said it was "baseless" to say she was "stirring hate", adding: "I have always called for respectful, fact-based discussion, and will continue to do so." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
