Tim Wilson (British politician)


Tim Wilson is an English animator and former politician. In 2015, he was selected as South Northamptonshire's candidate for the UK Independence Party, but stood down due to disagreeing with racist comments made by party members. In 2019, he finished in third place in the second series of the Channel 4 series The Circle.

Background

Wilson attended Ratcliffe College and Oxford University where he studied Theology in St Benet's Hall under Metropolitan Bishop Kallistos Ware and specialised in inter-faith dialogue, giving lectures in Birmingham.
He was a theatre-designer, providing an "American Gothic" design for the first London revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" directed by Sam Buntrock He has travelled in Albania, Turkey and Greece drawing the views that Edward Lear first drew in 1848. His work is recorded in the Albanian Encyclopedia of Art. In 2016, he became a professor in the Moscow State Pedagogical University where he had previously lectured.

Politics

Wilson was selected as UKIP's candidate for South Northamptonshire at the 2015 general election. However, he resigned from UKIP on 24 March in support of Humza Yousaf who said he was upset when David Coburn the only UKIP MEP in Scotland allegedly referred to Yousaf as the terrorist Abu Hamza. In his resignation letter, Tim Wilson made it clear that he believed Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP had shown poor judgement in dismissing Coburn's alleged remarks as a "a joke in very poor taste. He would not be taking any action against him". Wilson later made the point that a joke should be funny and that linking Humza Yousaf to convicted terrorist Abu Hamza was not funny. Wilson is reported saying, "If Mr Coburn wants to make bad jokes about religion, then he is welcome to quit and join Monty Python.". "You can’t toss this thing off as a joke with a pint of beer. It's unacceptable."
As an animator, Wilson had made films for the UKIP campaign, UKIP's apparent response has been to accuse Wilson of not being interested in local affairs, a claim he denies in the Daventry Express and by standing for election as a local Councillor.
While taking part in The Circle, Wilson claimed he actually voted to Remain and wished to "expose UKIP from the inside".

Television

In September 2019, Wilson began appearing as a contestant in the second series of the Channel 4 reality series The Circle. He was a finalist, placing joint 3rd in the series. He also won the shows "Viewers' Champion" title for being the most popular finalist by viewer's vote, winning a £30,000 prize.

Awards

In 2012, Wilson won Best Animation at the Reed.co.uk Short Film Competition for "How to be Boss".