Reform UK Members' Hardline Views Exposed in New Poll
A recent poll has revealed that a majority of Reform UK members hold hardline views on non-white British citizens, potentially creating tension within Nigel Farage's party as he attempts to appeal to centre-ground voters. The findings, published by the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, indicate that 54% of Reform members believe non-white British citizens born abroad should be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave the country.
Poll Details and Party Tensions
Conducted by the respected polling company Survation between 29 January and 16 February, the survey involved 629 Reform members. Reform UK claimed in December to have approximately 270,000 paid members. The poll also found that 22% of members supported similar measures for non-white citizens whose parents were born in the UK.
Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate, warned that these views could lead to disillusionment among members if Farage dilutes the party's policies to attract more moderate voters or if Reform were to form a government. The report, part of Hope Not Hate's annual "State of Hate" release, highlights internal pressures as Farage faces challenges from right-wing figures like Rupert Lowe, who recently launched the hardline party Restore Britain.
Rise of Racial Nationalism and Far-Right Influence
Hope Not Hate has raised alarms about the increasing spread of racial nationalism, which defines English identity based on "blood and ancestry." The report describes this ideology as dangerous, particularly through concepts like "remigration," which repackages ethnic cleansing in bureaucratic language. It notes that extreme views are gaining mainstream traction with support from Reform UK and media figures.
The report links racially charged identity debates, such as those during the Black Lives Matter backlash, to recent statements by Reform UK figures. For example, Matthew Goodwin, who lost a byelection last week, refused to retract his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds might not be British. Similarly, Suella Braverman wrote that she is a proud British Asian but not English, following a controversy sparked by podcaster Konstantin Kisin about Rishi Sunak's identity.
Far-Right Mobilisation and Future Concerns
Hope Not Hate reports that the UK's far right is now "bigger, bolder and more confrontational." Key developments include the "unite the kingdom" rally in London, led by activist Tommy Robinson, which attracted over 150,000 participants—the largest far-right protest in British history. Polling by Focaldata for Hope Not Hate suggests that a quarter of the British population identifies positively with Robinson's movement.
Robinson, who has garnered support from figures like Elon Musk, is currently in the US, where he has been welcomed by right-wing political appointees. Additionally, the report highlights a wave of anti-migrant protests, such as those in Epping last July, with 251 demonstrations tracked in 2025. Hope Not Hate warns that these protests may surge again during the summer months, posing ongoing challenges for social cohesion.
