Former England captain John Terry has backed a call for a ban on ‘foreigners claiming benefits’, as the Chelsea legend showed renewed support for Restore Britain.
Terry responded to an Instagram post by Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP who recently launched another political party called Restore Britain.
Lowe had shared a video of his question to Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in the House of Commons on Monday.
The once Southampton chairman included the question in his post on Instagram.
‘We should ban foreigners from claiming benefits, and remove migrants who are incapable of financially supporting themselves – use those many saved billions to slash tax for the British men and women keeping the economy running,’ Lowe wrote.
‘Restore Britain would do exactly that, and put our own people first. Finally.’
Chelsea legend John Terry has backed a call for a ban on ‘foreigners claiming benefits’
Terry reacted in support to a post by Rupert Lowe, who recently launched his political party called Restore Britain
Terry responded ‘100% yes’ while another former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise stated ‘200%’
Terry signalled his support in the comments, with the former Chelsea star writing ‘100% yes’ in reply.
Another former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise, who had the armband between 1993 and 2001, added ‘200%’ in another response.
It is not the first time Terry has signalled his support for Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth.
In March, Terry appeared to have backed calls to ban the burqa in the UK.
It followed Lowe sharing a post on Instagram of a London Underground station that had Bengali signage on the outside.
He said: ‘This picture was taken in London. Restore Britain would ban the burqa, and Restore Britain would ensure that all London stations use English, and English only. Enough is enough.
‘Vote Restore Britain to get our capital city back.’
A burqa is the clothing that some Muslim women wear to cover their body apart from a small gap around their eyes. Other European countries such as France have previously banned it in public.
Former England captain Terry recently appeared to join calls to ban the burqa in the UK
He appeared to signal his support after Lowe shared a post calling for the policy
Terry commented on Lowe’s post as he replied with three clapping emojis and an England flag.
This caused a stir as the former defender faced a backlash, but Lowe shared another post leaping to the defence of Terry.
He posted the same picture and added: ‘I see that England/Chelsea legend John Terry is taking some flak for applauding Restore Britain’s policy of banning the burqa and ensuring that all London stations use English, and English only.
‘This is the position the vast majority of the British people support. There is now a political party that will say exactly what people think and fight to make it happen. Restore Britain.
‘If we get called names? WHO CARES. It does not matter. We do not care, and nor should you. This isn’t 2015 anymore. These insults mean nothing.
‘More people need to show some courage and stand up for what the majority thinks. Restore Britain is doing exactly that. We are going to get our country back.’
Lowe, 68, was elected as a Reform UK MP in 2024 before he was later suspended and left the party following allegations of threatening behaviour towards a colleague and workplace bullying.
Lowe denied the claims, arguing he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ after criticising Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Terry confirmed last week he had not been asked to be part of interim Chelsea manager Calum McFarlane’s backroom staff, after being ‘frustrated’ to miss out back in January
Terry currently has a part-time consultancy role within Chelsea’s academy set-up, and last week shared images of the success of the club’s Under-21 and Under-18 sides.
The 45-year-old admitted earlier this year he was ‘frustrated’ after he was overlooked to join the backroom staff of Calum McFarlane, who was made interim manager after Enzo Maresca’s shock Chelsea exit in January.
Terry last week confirmed he had not received a call to be part of McFarlane’s set-up again, after he stepped up as interim boss for the second time after Liam Rosenior’s sacking.
Speaking last year, Terry said it was ‘difficult to fathom’ why he had not been given the chance to enter management.
‘I’m not sure it ever happens, to be honest. It’s my one last dream I have at the football club. I’ve done everything at Chelsea. And for me now, the one thing that is missing is being the manager of the football club,’ Terry said.
‘That’s why I went into coaching when I finished playing. My idea and dream was to learn my trade a bit. As a player, you retire after 22 years… Listen, 100 per cent, you learn enough to go into management.
‘The level I played at and the managers I played under. But it doesn’t give you the right you go into management at a certain level. You still have to learn and understand what it takes.
‘There’s a lot more that goes into the coaching side of it. So I went away and learnt my trade, I had some unbelievable times at Villa, I left Villa to be a number one, I thought I was ready. I think I’d be a really good number one, I enjoyed the coaching side of it.
‘I want people around me that are better coaches than me. Then I could lead the dressing room and the team like I did [as a player]. That’s what I did for 22 years at the club. I know I’d be good at it. Will I ever get the chance? I’m not sure, without doing the other bits. But when people tell you you’ve not got the experience, it’s difficult to fathom.’
The 45-year-old, who worked as an assistant to Dean Smith at Aston Villa and Leicester, has been linked with being part of a £14m takeover of Colchester United.
Terry had attended Colchester’s 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley earlier this month.
