Norfolk 'Nazi-Buddhist's links to MP and party candidates spark row |
Chris Mitchell, who calls himself a "Nazi-Buddhist", claims he was "personally thanked" by Rupert Lowe following his activism in support of the Great Yarmouth MP's new political parties.
Mr Mitchell, who is from Gorleston, is a long-time organiser for far-right groups.
Since they were established, he has become a vocal supporter and activist for Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth First (GYF), frequently urging people to support them in posts on his social media accounts.
Posts by Chris Mitchell on Facebook, showing his support for Great Yarmouth First (Image: Facebook)
His Facebook and Telegram accounts, all of which are publicly accessible, make frequent claims he has been given support from Mr Lowe and his team, alongside other posts about his racist and antisemitic views.
Mr Mitchell, who was formerly the East of England organiser for far-right group Patriotic Alternative, claimed he was told by Mr Lowe that he would not seek to restrict what he posts "due to his national views", replying "post what you want, I am for free speech".
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
He also said that Great Yarmouth First candidates congratulated him on his activism and flyering for the party during a launch event last month at the Britannia Pier Theatre.
Daniel Candon, a senior Great Yarmouth Conservative councillor, said his apparent links to Mr Lowe's parties were "profoundly disturbing".
He added: "It would be unreasonable to condemn any politician for a fleeting photograph with someone whose background was genuinely unknown.
"But let’s not kid ourselves - this does not appear to be an isolated or momentary encounter.
"The individual in question is reported to have been an entrenched extremist activist for Rupert Lowe’s group for months.
"That raises serious questions about judgment, oversight and basic due diligence."
But Mr Lowe has dismissed the criticism, calling it a "concerted smear campaign" and said his parties would not "police opinions of random members of the public".
Posts by Chris Mitchell on Facebook, showing his support for Great Yarmouth First (Image: Facebook)
Mr Mitchell openly admits to having racist views in his posts online and in his Telegram channel.
In one message, he calls himself "a racist, misogynistic, anti-semitic, islamophobic homophobe".
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
He is followed online by Great Yarmouth First candidate Barry Gravenell and Mr Lowe's Facebook account has interacted with his posts.
An account operated by Jon Wedon, another GYF candidate and Mr Lowe's office manager, has also been interacting with Mr Mitchell online.
A screenshot of two Great Yarmouth First councillors, Jon Wedon, using the name 'Johnny Mark' and Barry Gravenell, interacting with Chris Mitchell, who is open about his white nationalist views (Image: Facebook)
Great Yarmouth First candidate Barry Gravenell has followed Chris Mitchell on Facebook (Image: Facebook)
In one post on December 1, 2025, Mr Mitchell reposted an announcement about Great Yarmouth First by Mr Lowe, writing, "finally something we desperately needed. Sign me up!"
Mr Lowe's account responded: "Welcome to the team, mate."
On Mr Mitchell's Telegram, he makes frequent claims that he has the support of the MP and his team.
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
In one message, he said: "The demoralising tactics to attempt to put me off Rupert Lowe, will NOT work... I've got to know the Great Yarmouth First team over the past few months and Rupert chose very well."
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
In a separate message, he said: "When Great Yarmouth First started due to my nationalist views, I asked Rupert are there any restrictions on what I can or cannot post on my socials. The answer from Mr Lowe was 'post what you want, I am for free speech'.
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
"Nationalists are going nowhere and with our help, Restore will be bringing home the W."
He also claimed "Rupert's right-hand man" had texted Mr Mitchell, saying "he will be dropping a Restore Britain hat to my mum's tomorrow. Based."
Screenshots from Chris Mitchell's Telegram channel (Image: Telegram)
'MILLIONS WILL HAVE TO GO'
Mr Lowe's Restore Britain is attracting far-right support due to his hardline anti-immigration stance, which is seen by many as tougher than Reform's policies.
Chris Mitchell, an ethnonationalist, posing for a photograph with Great Yarmouth MP, Rupert Lowe (Image: Chris Mitchell/Facebook)
The MP has advocated for mass deportations of illegal migrants and has said "millions will have to go".
Mr Lowe was elected as a Reform MP in 2024 but he was later booted out of the party following a fallout with leader Nigel Farage.
The Yarmouth MP did not address Mr Mitchell's claims that he has his support but called the criticism of his interactions "a smear campaign".
Rupert Lowe (Image: Ben Whitley)
Mr Lowe said: “There is a concerted media smear campaign against Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth First.
"We have made our position abundantly clear on immigration - we want illegals deported, all of them, and mass immigration drastically reversed.
"If a migrant doesn’t speak English, claims benefits, lives in social housing, doesn’t work or even hates our way of life? They will be deported.
"That is not racist. That is common sense.
"Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth First are not responsible for policing the opinions of random members of the public.
"We have our position, and we will defend it.”
Chris Mitchell responding to criticism of his support for Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth (Image: Telegram)
Mr Mitchell, responding to criticism about his support of Mr Lowe, said: "I am going to be one activist out of hundreds of thousands of people.
"I will never apply for a major role within the party for this reason but no one can stop me from mass-leafleting and promoting.
"But I will be one of the best activists the party has."