Chris Parry is a retired British Royal Navy officer with the rank of Rear Admiral. He gained public attention in 2026 when he was selected by Reform UK to contest the mayoral election for Hampshire and the Solent.

Controversy and Suspension

Parry’s candidacy became the subject of intense scrutiny after reports emerged that he had made controversial comments regarding David Lammy, the former Labour Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister. It was alleged that Parry suggested Lammy should “go home to the Caribbean” and implied that at least eight other politicians from minority ethnic backgrounds did not possess primary loyalty to the United Kingdom.

Following these revelations, which were further detailed by The Guardian, Reform UK suspended Parry in March 2026. Internal party dynamics surrounding his suspension were later exposed in an undercover investigation by ITV Exposure. The footage revealed that Reform leader Nigel Farage resisted calls from senior advisers, including head of communications Ed Sumner—who described Parry as “clearly a racist”—to sack the candidate entirely. Instead, Farage reportedly instructed that Parry be made to apologize to Lammy, stating, “He must do it and move on… Tell him that from me.” When Sumner accused Farage of “protecting” Parry, Farage replied by referencing Parry’s military status: “Trouble is he’s a rear admiral. That’s the problem.”

Military Background

Before entering political controversy, Parry served as a senior officer in the Royal Navy. Research indicates that a Rear Admiral Christopher John Parry (born 1953) previously held significant government roles, including serving as the first chair of the Marine Management Organisation until November 2010. However, specific details regarding the career timeline of the 2026 candidate are limited in available sources beyond his rank and recent political involvement.