REFORM candidate for May’s Welsh Senedd elections Corey Edwards stood down today after a photo showing him appearing to perform the Nazi salute.

Mr Edwards, a former Conservative special adviser, was only announced as his party’s lead candidate in the constituency of Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg on Wednesday.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage sparked anger earlier today after he stood by Mr Edwards, despite the photo.

Mr Farage agreed that the photo looked terrible and he “wouldn’t approve of it,” but defended Mr Edwards by saying he was impersonating Basil Fawlty from the TV show Fawlty Towers.

“It was a Fawlty Towers impression,” Mr Farage said in an interview with ITV News. “Maybe we should ban the BBC, I don’t know.”

He then said he would not remove the candidate from the party, adding: “He’s a human being.”

And yet another statement from Reform suggested he was impersonating Welsh footballer Wayne Henessey.

Stand Up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu told the Star: “Shame on Nigel Farage for refusing to throw out Corey Edwards from Reform UK. 

“From candidates giving Nazi salutes to supporting fascist demonstrations — this is the true face of Reform UK — a party that endorses fascism when convenient.”

However, later today a Reform UK spokesman said Mr Edwards had informed the party he was stepping down as a candidate “citing issues with his mental health.”