Neville Watson, the only Black branch chair of Reform UK, has resigned from the party, citing concerns that the tone of Britain's migration debate is 'doing more harm than good'. Watson, who led the party's Enfield branch, said he had not experienced racism within Reform but was alarmed by the growing influence of Christian nationalism and rising Islamophobia.
Watson, the son of Windrush-generation Jamaican parents, played a key role in attracting diverse members to the party, including those from Nigerian, Sikh and Turkish backgrounds. He had been a prominent figure at conferences and wrote for the party's magazine. However, after the 'unite the kingdom' rally in London, which drew an estimated 110,000 protesters and raised fears of division, he decided to leave.
Watson expressed concern that some within Reform were sympathetic to far-right activist Tommy Robinson, despite leader Nigel Farage distancing himself. He also criticised politicians for 'stoking a fire' over issues like small boats and asylum hotels, saying such rhetoric harms community relations. Watson had previously written to Reform's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, advocating reparations for African-Caribbeans.
A longtime Brexit supporter and socially conservative evangelical Christian, Watson stood as a parliamentary candidate for Reform and previously for Ukip. He said his Christian faith and positive views on migration led him to question the party's direction. 'Politics is losing its compassion as politicians try to out-Reform Reform,' he said. Watson has now joined the Christian People's Alliance, stating he wants to avoid weaponising faith against Islam.
