Reform UK has been accused of embracing racism after appointing Matthew Goodwin, a former academic who argued that UK-born individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British, as honorary president of its new student organisation, Students4Reform. Goodwin, now a hard-right activist and prominent Reform supporter, confirmed the role on X.
The controversy follows Goodwin's posts after a mass stabbing on a train in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where Anthony Williams, 32, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder. Goodwin initially blamed 'mass uncontrolled immigration' for the attack. When challenged that Williams and another black man arrested were UK-born, Goodwin responded: 'So were all of the 7/7 bombers. It takes more than a piece of paper to make somebody ‘British’.'
In subsequent posts, Goodwin listed crimes he attributed to immigrants, including the stabbing, and wrote: 'These migrants do not instantly adopt the host country’s ‘British’ or ‘English’ culture and identity the moment they sign a few papers.' He later stated: 'I stand by every word,' adding that individuals who commit violent acts 'might have a British passport but they are not one of us, sorry.'
Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson condemned the remarks as 'racist rhetoric' and called on Nigel Farage to strip Goodwin of his role, stating: 'Failure to do so will confirm that Reform UK not only tolerates but actively embraces blatant racism.' A Labour spokesperson echoed the demand, noting Farage's previous inaction over racist remarks by Sarah Pochin.
Goodwin defended his comments, telling the Guardian: 'What I said isn’t racist. They devalue the term by saying this.' He argued that first or second generation immigrants 'are more likely to retain cultural traits and habits from parents' and that some 'reject integration in favour of retaining their origin culture.'
