Jack Aaron, the man responsible for vetting candidates for Reform UK ahead of the upcoming general election, has found himself at the center of a major controversy.
Known for his role in last year’s election as the party’s candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, Aaron has praised Adolf Hitler, calling him “brilliant.”
This unsettling statement, along with other controversial remarks he made about global leaders, has sparked outrage across the political spectrum.
Defending Controversial Views
Aaron’s troubling opinions are not limited to his praise for the Nazi dictator.
In the past, he referred to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as “gentle by nature” and justified Russia’s actions in Ukraine, calling their use of force “legitimate.”
His comments were initially revealed during the last election campaign, where Aaron defended them by claiming that his views were based on a psychological perspective, stressing “context and nuances.”
Despite the public outcry, Aaron has risen to a significant position within Reform UK, becoming the head of candidate vetting.
In this role, he is responsible for reviewing potential candidates’ social media activity and advising them on which content should be deleted.
This comes after over 100 Reform UK candidates were dismissed or removed for making offensive or racist comments in the past.
Reform UK’s Response and Aaron’s Personal Background
Following the scandal, Reform UK has tried to downplay the situation.
A spokesperson for the party clarified that Aaron is Jewish and has a deep connection to his heritage, sitting on his local synagogue council.
They emphasized that his grandfather was a refugee from Vienna, with much of his family having been killed during the Holocaust.
Reform UK further stated that they do not disclose details about their internal vetting process or the staff involved.
Aaron’s Past and Professional Background
Before getting into politics, Aaron had a diverse career. He came third in the 2024 election for Welwyn Hatfield with just over 13% of the vote, behind Conservative Minister Grant Shapps.
According to his LinkedIn, Aaron is a business psychologist, consultant, YouTuber, coach, relationship counselor, and even a matchmaker.
He also founded the World Socionics Society, which promotes the theory of 16 personality types.
The Dictator Comments and Aaron’s Justifications
Aaron’s praise for controversial figures like Hitler was linked to his pseudoscientific theory of personality types, known as socionics.
In 2022, he posted on social media that Hitler was “brilliant” in how he used specific socionics traits to inspire action.
Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Aaron dismissed accusations of Putin being insane, arguing that understanding the dictator’s mindset was crucial for opposing him.
Similarly, Aaron defended Assad, arguing that the Syrian leader was “not some bloodthirsty tyrant” and had been “led astray” by stereotypes.
These comments, paired with his views on other world leaders, have ignited widespread condemnation.
Conclusion and Response
Reform UK and Jack Aaron have yet to respond to these latest revelations.
The party, which is gearing up for the next election, is likely to face more scrutiny over the controversial figure now responsible for vetting their candidates.