Reform UK: officials, incidents and party record

Reform UK, also known as the Reform Party, is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom, founded by Nigel Farage and Catherine Blaiklock on 23 November 2018 as the Brex

Leader: Nigel Farage

Founded: 2018

Headquarters: Millbank Tower, 21–24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

Ideology: Right-wing populism, Hard Euroscepticism

Position: Right-wing to far-right

Membership: 268,000 (December 2025)

Website: https://www.reformparty.uk/

Reform UK, also known as the Reform Party, is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom, founded by Nigel Farage and Catherine Blaiklock on 23 November 2018 as the Brexit Party and renamed Reform UK in January 2021. Nigel Farage has been leader since June 2024, with Richard Tice as Deputy Leader and Lee Anderson as Chairman. Positioned to the right of the Conservative Party, it advocates right-wing populism and hard Euroscepticism under the slogan "Britain is broken. Britain needs Reform." The party has eight MPs in the House of Commons, seventeen members of the Scottish Parliament, thirty-four members of the Senedd, two members of the London Assembly, two directly elected mayors and two police and crime commissioners, and around 2,330 local councillors, controlling thirty-five councils. Its membership stood at 268,000 in December 2025, and it is governed by the Reform UK Board from its headquarters at Millbank Tower in London.

Reform UK policy documents

Tracked Reform UK representatives (2162)

Recorded party incidents (showing 1-50 of 319)

Richard Tice accuses former Reform MS of lying about her beliefs

Category: inflammatory language

Richard Tice (mp, East Midlands) accused Sarah Cooper-Lesadd of having lied about her political beliefs and about how she passed Reform UK’s vetting process after she left the party and joined Plaid Cymru. He told BBC Wales he believed she had misled the party and questioned the change in her stated views on the union and immigration. Ms Cooper-Lesadd has strongly denied claims from Reform officials that she manipulated the party’s selection process, and a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said she had been honest about her political journey. The accusation came during a turbulent period for Reform in Wales, which saw Dan Thomas step down as Welsh leader after his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour; he was released on bail and remains an MS and has not been suspended by the party while the police investigation continues.

Chris Perera suspended from Reform UK

Category: ethics violation

Chris Perera was suspended from Reform UK after an internal investigation found he had damaged the party's interests. Essex County Council's website now lists him as an independent and he continues to serve as the county councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet. He had been elected to the county council earlier in the year. A Reform UK spokesman said the suspension followed the party's investigation and removal from its membership. Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas said Perera had not responded to local correspondence and residents deserved an explanation. Essex County Council confirmed Perera remains a county councillor and it is unclear if or when he will rejoin Reform UK.

Andrew Husband reported to police over conduct as County Durham council leader

Category: intimidation bullying

Andrew Husband, leader of the Reform UK group on County Durham Council, has been reported to Durham Constabulary and is accused by former and current councillors of fostering a toxic culture on the council, including alleged bullying and harassment. Councillor Kenny Hope said Husband responded to a discussion of mental health by calling such issues "woke", a claim backed by former councillor Kate Roland, and other ex-Reform councillors described widespread infighting and intimidation. Durham Constabulary said other councillors had been reported to them and that the number of complaints had risen sharply, with the council incurring costs of around £50,000. Five councillors who defected from Reform have spoken publicly about the conduct of the local group and some said they had been fearful of speaking out while in the party. The accounts include resignations and social media attacks on former colleagues, and Husband remains identified in the leadership of the Reform group on the council. No public response from Husband or the local Reform group is included in the accounts summarised here; the matter involves ongoing police reports and internal disputes within the council group.

Norfolk police commissioner cancelled 127-date theatre tour after criticism over his duties

Category: ethics violation

Location: Norfolk

Colin Sutton, elected Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner in July 2026 on a salary of about £79,000 a year, faced sustained criticism in September 2026 after promoters advertised a 127-date national theatre tour of his one-man true crime show, The Makings of a Murderer, running across 11 months of 2027. Sutton initially defended the plan, saying the shows "would not impinge" on his duties and asking: "Am I not entitled to spend my spare time as I wish?" Reporting noted that around three quarters of the dates fell on weekday evenings, at venues across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Labour MP Ben Goldsborough said "you can't police a county from the back of a tour bus", and Conservative opponents described the episode as "a sorry saga". Sutton told North Norfolk District Council's scrutiny committee on 16 September 2026 that he had pulled out of the tour, saying the number of dates was "ridiculous" and that he had reflected after hearing from residents. He had earlier appeared to attribute his decision to commit to the tour to advice from his staff.

Colin Sutton blamed staff and media over planned 127‑date theatre tour

Category: conflict of interest

Colin Sutton, Norfolk police and crime commissioner and Reform UK national policing and crime adviser, planned an 11‑month, 127‑date one‑man theatre tour while holding the taxpayer‑funded PCC post. He said the performances would be carried out in his spare time and told the BBC he had been the target of a pile‑on and accused a local newspaper of antagonism towards the police and Reform UK. Critics including MP Steff Aquarone, MP Rupert Lowe and county councillor Kay Mason Billig said he was playing the victim and unfairly shifting responsibility onto his staff, and said the tour raised questions about his accountability and honesty to voters. Sutton declined to speak to the local paper but told the BBC he was in talks with his promoter to curtail or cancel the tour, and his campaign said he would reduce commitments while reassuring the public he would continue to fulfil PCC duties.

Reform UK launches Small Boat Watch app featuring game to turn back small boats

Category: social media conduct

Reform UK launched a Small Boat Watch app that tracks small-boat crossings of the English Channel and includes a game in which users control a Royal Navy ship to turn back dinghies attempting to cross. The party promoted the app and posted images and video of the gameplay on its X account. The party’s post paired a running tally of crossings and a statement about numbers of migrants with the gamified feature, and the app includes a leaderboard and score-based gameplay. The post and gameplay attracted reaction on social media; the party has not issued an apology or formal explanation in the material published alongside the app.

Dan Thomas resigned as Reform UK Welsh leader after confirming he had been arrested and bailed

Category: scandal

Location: Senedd, Cardiff / Aberbargoed, Caerphilly

Dan Thomas resigned with immediate effect as leader of Reform UK in Wales on Tuesday 15 September 2026, standing down at the same time as Leader of the Opposition in the Senedd. Earlier that day he withdrew from First Minister's Questions, with Reform UK initially attributing his absence to "personal reasons". Thomas then said he had been "reported to the police" over the weekend and "released without charge". Gwent Police confirmed that a 45-year-old man from the Aberbargoed area was arrested on Sunday 13 September on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, and that the man had been bailed pending further inquiries. The investigation remains active. Thomas has not been charged with any offence and denies any wrongdoing. He said: "I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account." He added that he would continue to serve his constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and would back whoever the group selects as its next leader. Thomas has not resigned from the Senedd and remains the Member of the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn, and is reported to remain a Reform UK member. Being released on bail without charge does not mean an individual has been cleared; Gwent Police say further inquiries continue. Reform UK has not announced any suspension, disciplinary process or removal of the whip, and no successor as Welsh leader has been confirmed.

Thomas Kerr described Govanhill as a ghetto

Category: racism

Thomas Jordan Kerr (MSP) described the Govanhill area as a ghetto during a speech at Holyrood and criticised multiculturalism and integration, saying the neighbourhood had become associated with daytime drug dealing, child exploitation, illegal migration and street gangs. He shared a video of the speech on X and Reform's social channels circulated the clip. Glasgow East MP John Grady condemned Kerr's remarks and defended Govanhill's diversity, saying such comments risk sowing division; Grady also addressed what he described as an implied reference to Glasgow MSP Holly Bruce. Kerr's post remained on social media and no party disciplinary action or formal sanction was reported in the sources consulted, though the comments drew criticism from local figures.

Francesca O'Brien chaired meeting attended by far‑right figures and said she did not know them

Category: racism

Francesca O'Brien (ms, Gŵyr Abertawe) chaired a public meeting in Mayhill about allegations concerning religious education at Sea View Community Primary School which was promoted and attended by leaders of Voice of Wales and far‑right activist Peter May. At the meeting she repeated unsubstantiated claims circulated by the group that schoolchildren were being forced to pray on Muslim mats and recite from the Quran. She later appeared on the Faith Speaks Louder podcast and said she had not known who the Voice of Wales attendees were or what they looked like when she chaired the meeting. O'Brien told the podcast she does not watch the news or political podcasts and defended speaking to people across the political spectrum, and she has previously publicly thanked Voice of Wales for backing her campaign. A Conservative source said it was inconceivable she did not know of Voice of Wales given her prior role in a Swansea political office. She dismissed criticism, saying her critics had been unable to prove she was racist and calling an investigation into her party irrelevant. The remarks have provoked public criticism and scrutiny of her judgement.

Christopher Harborne questioned over legality of £36m Reform UK donation

Category: financial conduct concern

Christopher Harborne donated £36m to Reform UK. Reporters say records suggest he may have registered as a domestic voter only in June, which could mean he was treated as an overseas voter and therefore subject to a £100,000 annual cap on donations under the Representation of the People Act. Reform has not disclosed the donors' registration dates. The legal status of the donation hinges on whether his voter registration met the domestic residency criteria. Reform said it was confident the donations were legal, and Nigel Farage said they were compliant under current law. If the elections bill is applied retrospectively and the donation is ruled impermissible, the money would have to be returned. Laura Lock, deputy chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, said providing false information to register to vote is a police matter that can lead to an unlimited fine or up to 51 weeks' imprisonment.

Susan Claire Archibald challenges use of ‘pregnant people’ in Senedd question

Category: gender based comment

Susan Claire Archibald (ms, Ceredigion Penfro) criticised the use of the term "pregnant people" in a Senedd written question about abortion services in Wales. She said she would continue to use the word "woman" when discussing pregnancy and women’s health and rejected gender‑inclusive phrases such as "pregnant person" or "person who bleeds". Archibald serves as a Reform UK MS and Reform UK Wales’ Shadow Minister for Social Care. The written question was tabled by Sarah Rees MS, who declined to comment, and the Welsh Government’s statement on access to abortion services used the word "women"; no party disciplinary action was reported.

Arron Banks criticised for saying there were no 'white faces' working at Heathrow

Category: racism

Arron Banks posted on X that at Heathrow "there wasn’t one white face in security or airport services", and added that "the Home Office is staffed by the type of people we are trying to keep out." He targeted non-white workers in public-facing roles and deleted the post after it attracted criticism. The comments were widely criticised, with Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake describing them as "shocking and disgraceful" and commentator Dan Hodges calling them "outright racism." Banks is a prominent supporter of Nigel Farage and was a Reform UK candidate to be West of England mayor, and the post’s deletion was the immediate consequence reported.

Zia Yusuf accuses Andy Burnham of inciting disorder

Category: xenophobia

Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesperson, told LBC that Prime Minister Andy Burnham was directly inciting disorder in British coastal communities. He said migrants arriving in Portsmouth were unvetted and asserted they were from nationalities more likely to commit sex crimes. His remarks were made while discussing anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth, where police launched an investigation after officers were injured and several vehicles were damaged. A government spokesperson condemned the intimidating and thuggish behaviour at the protest and thanked emergency services; Yusuf also set out Reform proposals to use the Royal Marines to prevent small-boat landings and to detain and deport unauthorised arrivals.

Dan Jukes suspended after undercover sting over foreign donations

Category: financial conduct concern

Dan Jukes, a senior Reform aide and long-time media spokesperson, was filmed in an undercover investigation appearing to plot ways to channel foreign donations to the party, including suggesting routing American cash through a British citizen. The footage also showed polling costing £30,000 commissioned by Reform and paid for by a reporter posing as a wealthy US donor, with the party’s role in producing the polling not disclosed publicly. The revelations prompted referral of the matter to the police and the Electoral Commission and have been described as potentially unlawful under UK rules on party donations. Jukes was suspended and removed from his role by the party as the investigation continued; James Orr, who appeared in the same footage, was also removed and Nigel Farage appears in the recordings and has commented publicly on the row.

Nigel Farage warns country is on edge of serious civil disturbance and condemns masked protesters

Category: inflammatory language

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said the country was on the edge of serious civil disturbance and described the situation as a national security emergency, while condemning protesters who wore masks and paramilitary-style clothing during anti-migrant demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth. He also said both governments had failed and argued that voting was the only solution to the issue. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said an investigation is ongoing to identify offenders responsible for assaults and other criminal offences during the Portsmouth protest, and Downing Street condemned the disorder while emphasising the right to peaceful protest. Daniel Thomas, who led large crowds at the Portsmouth demonstration and is described as an associate of Tommy Robinson, and Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal who criticised the masked protesters, were publicly linked to the weekend events.

James Orr filmed plotting to channel US donations to Reform UK

Category: corruption

James Orr, Reform UK’s head of policy, was filmed in an undercover sting telling reporters posing as wealthy American donors that the party could circumvent strict UK laws on foreign political donations, saying the reality was they could "easily get away with it". The footage showed Orr and senior aide Dan Jukes discussing routing American cash through a British citizen to avoid legal scrutiny and referenced polling paid for by the purported donors. The footage also includes Nigel Farage thanking the purported donors and referring to the polling as "bang for your buck". The Electoral Commission and police are investigating the alleged scheme. Both Orr and Jukes were removed from their positions by the party, and Farage said the row "looks bad".

Zia Yusuf defends masked anti-migrant protesters

Category: social media conduct

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, defended balaclava‑wearing protesters who blocked small boat arrivals in Dover and obstructed coaches in Portsmouth, making comments on X and during a visit to Portsmouth. He met protest organiser Daniel Thomas, said he would take the protesters' messages back to party leader Nigel Farage, and relayed claims the protesters had been instructed not to take drugs, drink, shout or carry out acts of violence. The statements followed a public condemnation of the masked protesters by Nigel Farage, who called for a ban on full‑face coverings, and were contrasted with comments from Reform's Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick urging police to arrest people who block everyday life. The exchange intensified internal tensions within Reform; no disciplinary action against Yusuf was announced and he continues as the party's home affairs spokesperson.

Zia Yusuf described migrants as invaders and accused the state of state-sponsored thuggery

Category: xenophobia

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK spokesperson for home affairs, gave an interview in Portsmouth in which he described migrants escorted by police as invaders and accused the state of state-sponsored thuggery. He urged the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to stop what he called an invasion and advocated use of Reform UK's proposed Operation Fortress, saying the navy and marines should intercept vessels and the military should be deployed. Yusuf also cited Ministry of Justice data about offending rates among men from countries such as Afghanistan while arguing for tougher measures. The comments followed the arrival of around 140 migrants in Portsmouth that was publicly highlighted by Councillor George Madgwick, who said the subsequent protests were justified while urging respect for emergency services. The Operation Fortress policy Yusuf referenced was recently unveiled by Nigel Farage, and Yusuf continued to promote the policy and the party's hardline approach to small boat crossings in his role as Reform UK spokesperson.

Robert Jenrick tells assaulted protester to 'get a life'

Category: inflammatory language

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s treasury spokesperson and an MP, said on Sky News that a protester who had been physically attacked after disrupting Nigel Farage’s keynote speech should "get a life" and dismissed the incident as a consequence of trying to disrupt a party conference. He interrupted the presenter during discussion of footage showing at least one female protester having her hair pulled and her head grabbed by attendees. Footage from the conference showed the protester being physically attacked, and West Midlands Police said they were aware of a video and asked the woman involved to come forward so enquiries could be carried out. Jenrick remains Reform UK’s treasury spokesperson and no party disciplinary action is reported in relation to his comments; the police statement noted no complaint had yet been received.

Robert Jenrick dismisses protester dragged by her hair at Reform conference

Category: inflammatory language

Robert Jenrick dismissed a female protester who had been dragged by her hair at Reform UK's party conference in Birmingham, describing her as a far-left protester and minimising her complaint about being struck with a crutch. He characterised her actions as an attempt to wreck the leader's speech and told a broadcaster she should get a life, framing the incident as theatrics rather than a safety concern. West Midlands police said they were aware of footage of the incident and asked the woman involved to come forward. Jenrick remains Reform's treasury spokesperson and an MP; There is no report any formal disciplinary action against him in relation to his remarks about the protester.

Nigel Farage mocked protesters as audience members pulled hair and struck a heckler

Category: intimidation bullying

Nigel Farage dismissed and mocked protesters who disrupted his keynote speech at the Reform UK conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham while a protester was removed from the hall. Footage from the event shows audience members pulling the woman's hair, grabbing her head and an attendee hitting her with a walking stick during the disruption. West Midlands Police said they had not received a direct complaint but asked the woman involved to come forward so officers could carry out enquiries. Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf condemned members who pulled the protester's hair, while party chairman Lee Anderson suggested collecting money for the man seen using a walking stick; Nadine Dorries said protesters should not expect gentle treatment. The activist group involved said the protester was considering whether to contact police and the force is seeking further information.

Lee Anderson describes House of Lords as the most expensive care home in Europe

Category: inflammatory language

Lee Anderson (mp, East Midlands) said in broadcast comments that Reform was being shunned by Labour and that the uniparty system was trying to block the party. He described the House of Lords as the most expensive care home in Europe. He presented the remarks as evidence that Reform is denied a fair hearing by establishment forces, contributing to a grievance narrative. Lee Anderson remains MP for East Midlands.

Nigel Farage compares parliamentary standards inquiry to investigations of Donald Trump

Category: inflammatory language

Nigel Farage compared the parliamentary standards inquiry into his failure to register a £5 million gift to the investigations faced by Donald Trump during a BBC interview ahead of Reform UK’s conference. He dismissed the inquiry as unlikely to be fair, alleged a coordinated establishment effort to portray Reform UK members as crooks and suggested any sanction from the standards commissioner would be unjust. Farage is under scrutiny for failing to declare a £5 million gift from donor Christopher Harborne and for further financial support from George Cottrell; the £5 million gift is the subject of an inquiry by the parliamentary standards commissioner. He maintained the gifts were accepted in a personal capacity, said his family had been targeted with threats and experienced debanking, said he expects to be interviewed by the commissioner and said he will remain Reform UK leader at the next election.

Zia Yusuf highlighted the Somali birthplace of a Labour by-election contender

Category: xenophobia

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's spokesperson for home affairs, posted on X that the front runner "being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour to replace the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in our Parliament was born in Somalia", adding "Do you understand what's happening?" The post referred to Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Labour councillor and council leader in Camden seeking the party's nomination for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Yusuf followed it with a further post repeating the reference to her country of birth. Abdi-Wali came to the UK as a child and has served as an elected councillor in Camden. Labour figures and other commentators said the posts were racist because they treated a candidate's country of birth as disqualifying. Yusuf did not withdraw or amend the posts, which remained online, and Reform UK took no disciplinary action.

Sources: https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/2095196271522808267 https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zia-yusuf-accused-of-racism-over-attack-on-labour-council-leader_uk_6a990a8fe4b0e51a2d9155fb https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/06/zia-yusuf-reform-uk-post-camden-council-leader-sagal-abdi-wali https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/zia-yusuf-reform-piers-morgan-37624254 https://www.ft.com/content/d5b33ff5-9aad-4b9a-a7bc-3eff956e7f15

Lee Anderson backs referendum on reinstating the death penalty

Category: inflammatory language

Lee Anderson said Britain should hold a referendum on reinstating the death penalty and that he believed voters would support bringing back capital punishment. He presented the proposal as a response to what he described as Parliament being out of touch and acknowledged the issue would be very divisive. Reform leader Nigel Farage disagreed, saying he opposed the death penalty on grounds including the risk of wrongful executions. There has been no reported party sanction and Anderson remains a Reform UK MP; legal barriers such as the European Convention on Human Rights would also prevent immediate reintroduction of capital punishment in the UK.

Lee Anderson called for eviction of social tenants over untidy gardens

Category: xenophobia

Lee Anderson (mp, East Midlands) said social housing tenants should be required to keep their homes and gardens maintained or face eviction, speaking at a Reform UK press conference in London. He recalled earlier council-housing rules requiring inspections and said tenants would previously be given warnings before being removed if they did not meet minimum standards. The comments formed part of Reform UK’s wider social housing proposals, which included giving priority to young British workers, veterans and married couples and which the party says would include evicting foreign nationals from social homes; Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, set out plans for building affordable homes at the event. Housing charity Shelter said strict allocation rules would cause more homelessness and its chief executive Sarah Elliot criticised the policies; Lee Anderson remains chairman of Reform UK and no party disciplinary action is reported in relation to these remarks.

Robert Jenrick accuses Kemi Badenoch of inventing quotes

Category: inflammatory language

Robert Jenrick (mp, East Midlands) attacked Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at a Reform UK press conference, accusing her of inventing what Giorgia Meloni had said and advising her not to invent quotes from foreign leaders. He described the episode as embarrassing for Badenoch and warned that visiting a foreign leader did not justify making up remarks attributed to them. The remarks came amid controversy over Badenoch’s account of a private meeting with Meloni and an amended newspaper article about that meeting; Badenoch had posted a selfie praising Meloni on social media. A Conservative spokesperson said the party had not made false claims and accused Reform of peddling conspiracy theories; Jenrick is recorded as a Reform MP and has not faced a formal sanction over the comment.

Richard Tice backs prioritising married parents and British-born children for social housing

Category: xenophobia

Richard Tice (mp, East Midlands) said in a Times Radio interview and at a press conference that it would be surely preferable for children to have married parents and that having British-born children should be encouraged, while defending his party’s proposals to prioritise married couples aged under 35 with children, veterans and workers for social housing. He said married British couples would be given preference under the party’s proposed social housing rules. Homelessness charity Shelter said the plans could leave families trapped in temporary accommodation and put people fleeing domestic abuse at risk, and a Labour spokesperson criticised the proposal. The comments form part of Reform’s wider policy to move foreign nationals down the social housing list and follow a previous pledge by the party to remove foreign nationals from social housing; Mr Tice has defended the policy as party policy and remains deputy leader of Reform UK.

Nigel Farage threatens to cut aid and ban visas for Pakistani nationals

Category: xenophobia

Nigel Farage criticised Pakistan for refusing to accept the return of convicted grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed and said that, if he were prime minister, he would cut foreign aid to Pakistan and ban new visas for Pakistani nationals unless Pakistan agreed to take the individual back. He framed the measures as conditional on Pakistan's response to the deportation dispute. The comments targeted an entire nationality in the context of a criminal deportation dispute and were presented as an ultimatum tied to government policy on aid and visas. There is no recorded official consequence in the source material provided and no party response is noted in the source.

Zia Yusuf criticised plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers in Piddington

Category: xenophobia

Zia Yusuf criticised plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers in Piddington, saying residents were terrified and accusing the government of dumping unvetted men into the village. He said the arrival would transform the local community and its children. The comments employed fear-based language about asylum seekers and the host community. No party disciplinary action or official response was reported.

Nigel Farage proposes bill to remove Commonwealth voting rights and restrict election languages

Category: xenophobia

Nigel Farage published an "Election Integrity Bill" through Reform UK that proposed removing the historic right to vote for Commonwealth citizens, requiring election material to be published only in languages native to the British Isles, and introducing polling-station checks on voters' English ability. The package also included limits on postal voting and measures described by the party as protections against so-called "family voting." Danny Kruger, head of Reform UK's Department for Preparing for Government, defended the proposals as necessary to protect the electoral system. Critics said the measures would exclude many lawful residents and non-English speakers from participating in UK elections and make it harder for migrant communities to access voting; Reform UK sought to have the measures taken as amendments to government legislation but they were unlikely to be adopted.

Danny Kruger calls to remove voting rights for Commonwealth citizens

Category: xenophobia

Danny Kruger, Reform UK MP for South West, said Commonwealth citizens represented a significant threat to democracy and argued that millions who were not attached to the country should not have the right to vote. He said Reform would make it illegal to issue election material in foreign languages, restrict postal voting to members of the armed forces and those unable to vote in person, and endorse banning so-called family voting. The remarks formed part of Reform UK's policy proposals to restrict voting eligibility and regulate election communications. Kruger presented these proposals publicly and remains the party's MP for South West. If enacted, the measures he proposed would remove voting rights from many Commonwealth citizens and limit access to electoral materials in other languages.

Police contradicted his claims about town centre safety as he promoted private security patrols

Category: xenophobia

Location: Essex

On 28 August 2026, Sam Journet, Essex County Council's Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills and Mayor of Basildon, announced on X that Reform UK Essex had launched "Operation Vanguard", placing private security personnel on the streets of Colchester, Chelmsford and Braintree in response to asylum seekers accommodated at the former RAF Wethersfield base. Byline Times reported on 2 September 2026 that Essex Police appeared to contradict the suggestion that those towns were unsafe, saying Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford "are safe" and that crime was down. The £150,000 patrol scheme was criticised as linking asylum seekers to crime without supporting evidence. The graphic Journet shared promoting the scheme appeared to be AI-generated.

Nigel Farage frames investigation into undisclosed £5m donation as people versus the establishment

Category: financial conduct concern

Nigel Farage characterised an investigation into an undisclosed £5m donation he received as a people versus the establishment by-election in Clacton. He presented the contest as an opportunity to oppose the political establishment rather than focusing on the regulatory scrutiny of the donation. The statement followed the opening of an investigation into the £5m gift. Farage framed the matter in political terms, saying the by-election offered a chance to challenge the establishment; the status and outcome of the investigation are not stated.

Danny Kruger says holidaymakers would disenfranchise themselves under postal voting plans

Category: discriminatory remark

Danny Kruger, the Reform MP for East Wiltshire, said people who go on holiday during an election would be disenfranchising themselves under Reform UK proposals to curb postal voting and that voters would be required to vote in person unless they were unable to do so. He made the remarks during an interview in which he set out the party's approach to limiting postal votes to those judged unable to vote in person. The comments were made alongside wider Reform proposals to remove the right of qualifying Commonwealth citizens to vote in UK elections and to ban campaign material in foreign languages. Labour criticised the party for apparent hypocrisy, saying Nigel Farage had voted by post at the 2024 general election, and the Liberal Democrats' Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart described the remarks as out of touch.

Lee Anderson claims Meloni–Badenoch story was suppressed

Category: factual inaccuracy

Lee Anderson, the MP for the East Midlands, wrote to a national newspaper alleging that a story about Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Kemi Badenoch had been deliberately suppressed and had disappeared, suggesting media censorship. He repeated the suggestion in public commentary. The allegation followed an earlier retraction of an original claim that Meloni had advised Badenoch against a deal with Reform. There was no public evidence presented to support Anderson's assertion of deliberate suppression, and the matter did not result in any reported party disciplinary action.

Richard Tice says foreign nationals should be placed at back of social housing queue

Category: xenophobia

Richard Tice (mp, East Midlands) said in an interview on GB News that Reform would introduce a "suitability test" to prioritise young British workers, young married couples and veterans for social housing and that foreign nationals should be removed from the social housing queue. He said the change would place British-born workers and veterans at the top of the queue rather than relying solely on a needs-based test. He defended the proposal as a question of fairness, saying local taxpayers should not be expected to house people who do not work and pay their way, and said changes would be required to the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act to implement it. He presented the measure as part of Reform's housing platform and said details of funding and implementation would be announced at a Reform press conference.

Laila Cunningham unable to explain Reform UK's own social housing policy in GB News interview

Category: factual inaccuracy

Location: London

Interviewed on GB News about Reform UK's newly announced social housing policy, Laila Cunningham denied that it would prioritise married couples, despite the party's deputy leader Richard Tice having said days earlier that it would. The policy would prioritise married couples with children and British workers under 35, bar people with indefinite leave to remain from accessing social housing, and place unemployed people further down waiting lists. Pressed on the consequences for pensioners and single parents, Cunningham said "vulnerable people will always go to the top of the list", which the interviewer pointed out was not what the published policy said. The exchange followed a run of interviews in which she was unable to set out her party's positions, including a TalkTV appearance in July 2026 in which she declined to answer a question on Reform's defence policy.

Rick Baker denies being pictured with Tommy Robinson

Category: factual inaccuracy

Rick Baker, leader of the Reform group on Northumberland County Council, denied being pictured with far‑right activist Tommy Robinson at the Unite the Kingdom rally. He said he could not have been present because he had been driving a bus at the time. An account on X posted photographs and cited material from Baker’s son’s podcast that it said placed Baker at the rally, contradicting his denial. Reform UK says it has no links to Robinson; the photographs were shared publicly on social media and no formal disciplinary action has been reported, and Baker remains leader of the Reform group on Northumberland County Council.

Dan Thomas accused of hypocrisy after records showed he introduced the diversity policies he now attacks

Category: factual inaccuracy

Location: Cardiff / Barnet, London

Dan Thomas has campaigned in Wales against equality, diversity and inclusion work, which Reform UK has pledged to strip out of Welsh public bodies. Records published on 26 August 2026 showed that in June 2021, while Thomas was Conservative leader of Barnet Council, the authority adopted an Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion policy committing it to go "above and beyond" its legal duties. Thomas said at the time that the borough's diversity was "without question one of our greatest strengths". Earlier reporting set out further contrasts with his current positions, including public statements backing net zero, tree planting, electric vehicle charging points and anti-racism initiatives during his time leading the council. Political opponents branded him a hypocrite and an opportunist who had discarded previously held positions after defecting to Reform UK. Thomas has said his views changed.

Richard Tice posts misleading claims about ONS winter deaths data

Category: social media conduct

Richard Tice (mp, East Midlands) posted on X that the Office for National Statistics had stopped publishing data on winter excess deaths because the results did not suit Net Zero dogma. He amplified a post by Kathryn Porter, who describes herself as an independent energy consultant. The post presented a change in official reporting as suppression of evidence rather than a methodological change. The ONS discontinued an older methodology after review, and the UK Health Security Agency now publishes cold mortality statistics alongside heat mortality statistics, so the assertion that data were being withheld for Net Zero reasons was misleading. Tice is deputy leader of Reform UK and there is no record in the available source of any retraction or disciplinary action arising from the post.

Nigel Farage event organisers investigated over alleged unlicensed celebration

Category: other

Nigel Farage's victory celebration in Tendring was held as an invite-only event organised by Reform UK. Tendring District Council opened an investigation after organisers were refused a Late Temporary Event Notice because the application was submitted too late. Reform UK said the gathering was a private, invite-only event that did not require a licence and that it had applied for a licence on a precautionary basis. Tendring District Council is investigating whether the organisers breached licensing law; if found to have done so the organisers could face fines or custodial sentences. Nigel Farage did not attend the election count.

Suella Braverman questioned James Cleverly over asylum centre closure

Category: factual inaccuracy

Suella Braverman (mp, South East), a Reform UK MP and former Home Secretary, publicly questioned why James Cleverly did not close an asylum accommodation centre in his constituency while he served as Home Secretary. She singled out Cleverly, a Conservative MP and former Home Secretary, in her criticism. Critics pointed out Braverman had served as Home Secretary before Cleverly and therefore could have taken action to close the centre, highlighting an apparent inconsistency in her criticism. The exchange drew attention in discussions about Reform UK's recruitment of former Conservative ministers and the party's attacks on the previous government.

Lee Anderson defends prioritising British-born people for social housing

Category: xenophobia

Lee Anderson (mp, East Midlands) defended a Reform UK policy to prioritise British-born people for social housing in public remarks. He said council housing should be a privilege and that British-born workers under 35 should be placed ahead of foreign nationals and asylum seekers in housing allocation. The remarks were presented as putting British people first and Anderson said the party would make no apology for the policy. Critics warned the plan risked harming vulnerable families and escalating division; there is no record in the source of any party disciplinary action or formal challenge to his comments.

Suella Braverman denies being on resignation watch

Category: social media conduct

Suella Braverman denied claims that she was on "resignation watch", posting that the reporting about her was categorically wrong and that she had not been contacted before publication. The claim had been advanced by journalist Harry Cole, who said Reform insiders suggested she was unhappy and being closely watched by the party. Braverman said she was setting the record straight and rejected the suggestion she was preparing to quit, accusing the journalist of failing to check with her. Her denial leaves her position unchanged and there has been no public resignation; the claim remains unverified.

Nadhim Zahawi praises Trump and allies on Iran strategy

Category: social media conduct

Nadhim Zahawi posted on X praising Donald Trump’s approach to the war with Iran, saying the combination of Trump, Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent constituted a highly effective foreign-policy team and sharing analysis he described as showing the strategy was working to force concessions from Tehran. He reposted a thread of commentary and analysis about Iran and the regional conflict on his account. The post drew replies and debate on social media. The tweet remains visible on Zahawi’s X account and there is no public record of any formal disciplinary action by Reform UK in response.

Councillor Jason Townend arrested after pub brawl

Category: inappropriate behaviour

Jason Townend was arrested by police after a fight involving several men and women at a pub on Manchester Road in Bradford, during which a woman in her 40s sustained facial injuries. West Yorkshire Police attended the scene and arrested other individuals in connection with the incident while enquiries continued. Townend is a councillor for the Wibsey and Odsal ward on Bradford Council. A Reform UK Bradford spokesperson said Townend was subsequently released without charges, but police investigations are ongoing and he remains on police bail.

Richard Tice defends suspension of senior activist

Category: other

Richard Tice defended the suspension of senior activist Tim Montgomerie from Reform UK after Montgomerie criticised Nigel Farage’s decision not to attend his victory count. Tice made the remarks at a press conference in Enfield, north London, where he was unveiling the party’s apprenticeships policy and said internal disagreements should be kept behind closed doors. Montgomerie, a high-profile activist who had defected from the Conservatives and previously posed with Farage, was informed earlier this week of his suspension. Tice, who is deputy leader and the party’s business spokesperson, said Reform UK was not too thin-skinned to take criticism and defended the party’s approach; the decision came amid wider splits in the party over comments by home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf.

Richard Tice dismisses many degrees as worthless and suggests apprenticeships in dodgy crypto and money laundering

Category: inflammatory language

Richard Tice, Reform UK co-leader, spoke at a press conference in Enfield and dismissed many university degrees as worthless, saying around 80% of students had underperformed or wasted their time. He criticised modern languages and history, said learning to think critically was overrated, and suggested apprenticeships in areas he described as dodgy crypto deals, money laundering and offshore accounts. Suella Braverman spoke alongside Tice and set out plans to restrict non-vocational degrees and promote apprenticeships as an alternative to higher education. Broadcasters pointed out that student loans are counted on the government balance sheet; there is no record in this source of a correction, apology or disciplinary action by Reform UK in response to Tice's remarks.

Tim Montgomerie suspended after publicly criticising senior Reform UK figures

Category: inappropriate behaviour

Tim Montgomerie publicly criticised senior Reform UK figures in media interviews and on a podcast, expressing frustration with Nigel Farage's tone and saying senior party figure Zia Yusuf needed to be more of a team player. Reform UK suspended his party membership under its rules for public criticism. Montgomerie said he would appeal the suspension and intended the case to test whether the party tolerates free speech and dissent. The party said the suspension was implemented in line with its rules. Montgomerie, who defected from the Conservatives and described himself as a critical friend of the leadership, said he wanted to remain in Reform UK and would fight to retain his membership.