Reform UK has appointed Jack Aaron, a general election candidate known for controversial comments, as the head of its vetting process for prospective candidates.

Aaron previously described Adolf Hitler as ‘brilliant’ at inspiring people and characterized Bashar al-Assad as ‘gentle by nature.’ His remarks emerged during his candidacy in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency, where he also suggested that Vladimir Putin's military actions in Ukraine were ‘legitimate.’

Aaron is associated with the World Socionics Society, which promotes the theory of 16 personality types through a pseudoscientific framework.

Despite being one of several candidates whose past statements prompted controversy, leading to the removal of over 100 individuals from the party, he has now taken a leading role in vetting new candidates.

In his capacity as head of vetting, Aaron will be responsible for reviewing the social media activity of prospective candidates and providing guidance on content that should be removed.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, announced at a party conference that the organization would implement a stricter vetting procedure to prevent offensive and racist comments from candidates in the future.

A Reform UK spokesperson emphasized Aaron’s Jewish heritage and his role on the local synagogue council, highlighting that his grandfather was a refugee from Vienna and that part of his family was murdered during the Holocaust.

The party has stated that socionomics, which Aaron advocates, is not part of their candidate vetting process.

Criticism has arisen regarding the appointment, notably from Josh Simons, the Labour MP for Makerfield.

Simons argued that the party’s vetting process is ineffective and highlighted the contradiction of placing someone with Aaron’s views in charge of vetting candidates.

In the recent general election, Aaron finished third in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency, securing just over 13% of the vote, trailing behind defeated Tory minister Grant Shapps.

Aaron has a diverse professional background, describing himself on LinkedIn as a business psychologist, consultant, and YouTuber.

His political profile indicates that he advocates for a reformed immigration policy aimed at fostering the integration of desirable immigrants while preventing the formation of so-called ‘ghettoes of counter-culture.’ In previous comments regarding his controversial views, Aaron maintained that historical figures like Hitler, Putin, and Assad should not be admired, but emphasized the importance of understanding their motivations from a psychological perspective.

Aaron has stated that the desire for power and force is a legitimate motivation intrinsic to specific personality types that have influenced historical events.

Additionally, he has suggested that Assad’s actions are misunderstood due to social stereotyping, which he claims detracts from a proper understanding of the situation in Syria.

Reform UK's Chair, Zia Yusuf, has asserted that their vetting practices now exceed those of other political parties, aiming to curate a group of candidates regarded as ‘upstanding members of society.’