Ant Middleton teases run to be London mayor for Reform UK in major challenge to Sadiq Khan
Ant Middleton, 44, has teased that he will stand for London mayor for Nigel Farage’s Reform in a social media post where he pledged to “come back and serve” again on Wednesday.
The Special Boat Service veteran and SAS: Who Dares Wins star had previously claimed Britain was “rotting to its core” and outlined his wish to run with a promise to “cleanse” the capital of crime.
Middleton made the announcement on X, responding to a claim from the infamously provocative account Inevitable West that he was considering a run for mayor.
He wrote: “My country is calling me once again! I’ve fought for it once before and I WILL come back and serve it again! Standby standby…”
It follows an earlier reply where he promised: “I’ll come back to the UK but switching TV for Politics! There’s a storm brewing and we all know that I love a storm.”
Earlier still, the 44-year-old responded “Let’s talk…” to a post from Reform deputy leader Richard Tice about lawlessness in London.
The former commando’s X account has been abuzz with activity in recent days after he dropped numerous hints of a turn to full-time politics and a hypothetical mayoral manifesto.
He wrote on Monday: “Kier Starmer has got to go and whilst all of this is happening Britain is rotting from its core. I’m not hearing much from Sadiq Khan who also in my opinion has to go!
“We need to free both our country and its capital simultaneously from their twisted grips (putting it politely) if we are to ever rebuild Britain back to a bigger, better and more unified version of itself,” Middleton continued.
His first post concluded: “With these two at the helm, division will always be at the bow! Secure the perimeter and cleanse from the inside…”
Middleton then issues a lengthy clarification of his use of the word “cleanse,” explaining he wishes to tackle rampant crime in London in an exhaustive list of polices.
Teasing outraged responders, the former SBS soldier added: “You’ve actually given me an idea for a new title when I do eventually become Mayor of London… Major Mayor MIDDLETON! Now that’s got a nice ring to it. I’m coming.”
This is not the first foray into politics for Middleton, who spoke at the Reform UK annual conference in September last year.
In his speech, the 44-year-old also took aim at crime in the capital and warned of potential “civil unrest” on British streets.
“What’s happening on our streets right now? Violence. We are at a very important and crucial stage before it teeters to civil unrest which we want to avoid at all costs.
“But it’s coming. We are on that edge where violence hits the streets. We’ve all seen it,” he said forebodingly.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
ITV Grantchester’s Tessa Peake-Jones makes feelings clear on Tom Brittney replacementLauren Oakley issues two-word statement as she reunites with Giovanni Pernice outside BBC StrictlyPaddy McGuinness makes stance clear on BBC Top Gear return despite Flintoff crash and cancellation
My country is calling me once again! I’ve fought for it once before and I WILL come back and serve it again! Standby standby… https://t.co/skDJKuJSRv
— Ant Middleton (@antmiddleton) January 8, 2025
In 2021, the Afghanistan veteran fell victim to cancel culture while starring on SAS: Who Dares Wins over a series of tweets in which he criticised protesters taking part in BLM and EDL demonstrations on the streets of London.
Following the incident, Middleton left the UK with his family to live in Dubai.
Speaking exclusively to GB News while attending the D-Day 80th anniversary last Juneanniversary last June, Middleton spoke of his passionate patriotism for the UK despite leaving at the time.
“You can’t be passionate because the moment you’re passionate, you’re pushed on to the extreme right. You’re a patriot? You’re pushed on (to the right).
“We need political reform. It’s about starting with our younger generation. It’s about understanding what we want as a society and the direction we need to go. When we lose the identity of our country, we turn around in circles. When we lose the culture of our country, there’s no identity,” he told GB News.
GB News have approached Reform UK for comment.