Chris Parry describes Shomrim members as ‘cosplayers’ hours after arson attack in north London

Golders Green ambulance arson attack – live updates

A Reform UK mayoral candidate has described members of a Jewish neighbourhood watch group as “cosplayers” and likened them to “Islamists on horseback” in comments made after an attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity.

Chris Parry, who remains Reform’s mayoral candidate for Hampshire despite a previous controversy in which he said David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean, made the comments on Monday about Shomrim, a group of volunteers who safeguard communities including Orthodox Jewish families.

Parry, a retired rear admiral, retweeted a post on X by Catherine Blaiklock, a co-founder of the Brexit party, hours after news of the attack on the ambulances in north London emerged.