An Isle of Wight councillor has raised concerns that far right political party Advance UK is set to hold a meeting at a community centre this month.
The member for Pan and Barton, Cllr Geoff Brodie, hit out at Advance UK’s upcoming forum at Wootton Bridge Community Centre on 18th October.
Advance UK’s leader Ben Habib will be speaking at the event which will be hosted by Sarah Morris, according to its Facebook page.
Ms Morris was Reform UK’s 2024 general election candidate for Isle of Wight East, but she is now aligned with Advance UK. County Hall owns the community centre and its land but a registered charity, the Wootton Bridge Community Association, leases the building.
The Charity Commission (CC) is “currently assessing concerns” raised over “alleged political activity” at the association. Advance UK has not yet responded to a request for comment.
A CC spokesperson said the assessment would determine whether there is a “regulatory role” for it and “any next steps”.
On the Wootton Bridge Community Association’s CC page, its first charitable objective reads:
“To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Wootton Bridge in the Isle of Wight and the surrounding area without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions…”
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Cllr Brodie told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was “shocked” when told by a Wootton resident about the meeting, finding an “organisation with views like Advance UK abhorrent”.
He said:
“As a founder and trustee of a community charity myself (Pan Together) I am appalled that this registered community charity is permitting this divisive, political organisation to hold such a meeting.
“Particularly as one of its only two trustees is a former independent Isle of Wight councillor, Jon Gilbey.
Article continues below this advertisement “Surely it is against its published charitable objectives? Indeed, the East Wight Primary progressives’ campaign was denied access to the venue last year on that basis.”
The Independent Socialist councillor said he hoped the Charity Commission would take action.
He added:
“Immigration, whether legal or illegal, is being used by certain politicians to divide people at a time when most of the problems of society – cost of living, privatisation, the costs of Covid corruption, etc – lie with governments.
“Yes, the illegality needs to be dealt with by governments, but blaming people for fleeing danger and preferring the UK to other countries is not the way.”
The LDRS understands the meeting has also been flagged with the Isle of Wight Council, which has not commented on the matter. Wootton Bridge Community Association declined to issue a statement on the matter or speak on the phone on the subject.
How typical, we live in a democratic society where all views should be heard. I don’t support this party but a quick look at the website says:
They have been labelled “Far Right” by the media.
I am sick and tired of other people telling me what I can or cannot read, think, look at or say. I won’t be attending the meeting and probably won’t vote for this lot but I am deeply offended that some idiot wishes to take my right to do so away.
This country has totally gone to pot.
The leader of the party is a Pakistani Immigrant, is Geoff Brodie a racist?
Good luck mate Democracy needs protecting from these people.
At Tommy Robinson’s ‘Unite the Kingdom‘ rally, held in London on 13 September 2025, Advance were listed as one of the sponsors for the event
Advance is the countries only hope.
Reform won’t do anything. I have read where they
have even taken down flags in some areas.
Advance is for Britain.
The state controlled media told people there was
100,000 – 150,000 people at the March.
There was over a million people.
‘The Country’s only hope’. Not countries.
Who gives a fcuk about country’s or countries!
You know what one means.
I agree with RinTinTin.
Just imagine, the headline reads, “OUTRAGE AS FAR-LEFT PARTY SCHEDULES MEETING AT COMMUNITY VENUE IN WOOTTON”
I bet all the non-binary, allergy-impacted, tree-hugging, unwashed would be in uproar to read such a post.
Great Britain is supposed to be a democratic country, yet nowadays, unless you embrace Liebour and Clowning Davey policies of “Let them in, give them anything for free while everyone pays for it” you are automatically posted as ‘Far-Right’.
Caulkheads should be allowed to attend a meeting by the Advance Party UK. As for the party perceived as being ‘abhorrent’, you only have to look at Liebour and the scandal involving the Muslim grooming gangs. Now, that is what I’d call abhorrent.
As a nonbinary leftie myself, if a charity says they don’t allow political meetings then I wouldn’t want to step on that myself. Can’t have double standards after all. I don’t know much about this party, but sounds like they’re pushing their luck.
All this far right b@llocks is a load of crap.
We are all one. I am fed up hearing someone is far right,
someone is a leftie etc etc.
What about people who just want to get on with their lives and
are neither.
Are they labelled inbetweeners!
Talking of democracy the day this Labour Government mandate
their controlling digital ID’s, democracy will be a thing of the past.
They are talking about starting from 13 years old +
no more buying what people want etc etc.
items etc will be controlled, it’s already happening in
China.
My late father did not fight in WW2 for digital ID’s
My late father fought for our freedom!
Amen
Funny, I thought the NI Card was what you needed to be able to work. So sifting out people who don’t have the right to work is totally not the reasoning behind it.
The sooner this Labour experiment ends, the better. Time for a change. Let’s hope somebody has the balls to call a vote of no confidence in Mr Harmer and we have an early election.
We are becoming a communist country, so sad.
Well said.. this country needs a real good shake up . people need to learn to be tolerant of others, you don’t have to agree with them
Community facilities should not be used for partisan political meetings of any type. A huge banner, as you arrive at this Community Centre, declares you are entering the ‘Wootton Bridge Patriots Club’. Do you really think that a Community Centre, which is everyone’s facility, should be taken over in this way?
So long as it is open to all political parties, yes I think this is exactly what the community centre should be used for. Unless you have a large lounge they could use?
People need to grow up and accept others views rather than banishing them simply because it’s in fashion this year.
I’m no Farage supporter either (although not against him) but when he gets in, and we know he will, the snowflakes are going to get a taste of reality. Just like I had growing up from the 70s.
Ever since the Millennium this cancer that seems to focus on what might happen or being offended has riddled our society. Hasn’t really helped much has it as the most hideous murders and terror attacks have occurred while the cancer holds us all back from stepping in and saying NO.
If you would rather have birthday parties at this community centre why not just restrict your visits to those times and let the rest of the world go about their business unaffected. It’s a building, it has no feelings – although I’m sure many would prefer it if it had so they could claim it was “upset”.
Geoff lumley/brodie, whatever he calls himself is no more than a thug.
Anti British sentiment, two tier justice, support of terrorism.
It’s all labour policy.
He’s rude, arrogant and not worthy of office.
Nicely put RTT. And ‘fleeing danger’? Last time I visited France it seemed a tad less dangerous than some places on the North Island. Though I have to say I felt uneasy in Calais and gled the danger as soon as the ferry arrived.
Eleven out of ten for this response.
Only far right to the far left Brodie.
Not sure if far right is a correct characterisation of Advance UK, I strongly suspect that 70% if your readers would agree with 95% of what the stand for. Brodie as always is off the mark with so much of what he says, we need to put free speech first, otherwise it is a slippery slope. I would prefer Brodie focussed on the antics of his colleague Phil!
As I have said before, Brodie has now become a parody of his previous self.
I used to have a lot of time for his honesty and integrity, both of which seem to have disappeared down the plughole.
His disgraceful behaviour towards others in the Chamber should have led to his dismissal from all Council business.
What was even more depressing was that at that meeting, Critchison and Jefferies, who were both adjacent to Brodie and Gladwin, who was in tears at Brodies bullying, sat staring into the distance and it was left to Chairman
Ian Dore to reprimand Brodie, but he should be banned from any further involvement with IW Council.
Ben Habib is not “far-right”. He is an authentic conservative.
Typical of the horseshit we are being fed by starmers bunch of liars. Everyone is allowed an opinion, a meeting, etc, so I don’t see what the fuss is about, if anyone is “far right” it’s the labour party now.
Yes,you can have a meeting as long as your views coincide with mine.
Bearing in mind what the Community Centres own website says:
”without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions…”
Firstly: I am appalled I.E. at your articles ‘headline’ including the term ‘Far Right’. Your job is to ACCURATELY report the news, not repeat libellous remarks by biased local ‘Politicians’.
Secondly: am sure Mr Brodie would not have raised the matter if the people meeting were of an outlook and opinion matching his!
Disgrace behaviour on his part in attempting to silence any hint of disagreeing with HIS outlook!
Its a tricky one
“Yes, the illegality needs to be dealt with by governments, but blaming people for fleeing danger and preferring the UK to other countries is not the way.”
I absolutely agree. France is a dangerous place. Right? I wouldn’t call it safe. Full of foreigners for a start. Everyone has the right to go where the freebies are best don’t they. I mean what do we pay our taxes for if not for the benefit of anyone who can get here.
Anyway, we need more tourism so let’s not be picky, eh.
I thoroughly agree with RinTinTin and am proud to say that I am a member of ADVANCE UK which is NOT Far Right (what-ever that is supposed to mean.) Advance UK is headed by Ben Habib who is by far the most honest politician there is in this country. The new party now has over 38,000 members since being announced only three months ago.
If Councillor Brodie finds the views of the most patriotic party in this country abhorrent, then God help us all. We as a people are doomed with people like this troublesome ignoramus trying to control the narrative. Most straight thinking people on the Island would agree with everything Advance UK stand for.
Look them up for yourselves everybody and you will be relieved to find that there is still hope for the survival of our once great country, which is being betrayed on a daily basis by the ruling politicians.
Member’s of Thatchers cabinet have described reform as significantly further right than anything they ever did and more similar to Oswald Mosley than them. Advance are proudly more conservative than that.
Even avowed lifelong conservatives think you’re closer to Oswald Mosley than them. Doesn’t get much more far right than that.
Why shouldn’t they have their meeting here? We’re a free speech society so let’s hear what Everybody wants to say. I just think that Some people don’t like to hear the Truth about what maybe most of this Country needs.
Advance UK are NOT ‘far right’ and neither are many of us who agree with them. It is very easy for leftie Islanders that have not experienced ‘multiculturalism’ first hand and seen the division and resentment that it causes, to be derogatory about it. Maybe Mr Brodie should spend a year or 2 (as I have done) living in a predominantly Pakistani area and then see what he thinks
Brodie should move to Tower Hamlets for a year or two
then he can comment.
Im fed up hearing what brodie has to say hes just a lefty who would destroy our island if it was up to him ,he says reform uk are racist well theres alot of asians ect in the party and advance uk so what if it is far right we can vote or attend any meetings we wish its supposed to be democratic i shall be getting a ticket.
It’s people like Brodie why the country is in the state
it is currently in.
Time for him to wake up before it’s too late.