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 151-200 of 319)

Nigel Farage defends allowing employers to reject workers by nationality

Category: xenophobia

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said in January 2026 that employers should be allowed to prefer British-born workers and described existing anti-discrimination protections as "ludicrous." He repeated comments first made in a 2015 Channel 4 documentary and said he would not row back from them. Labour MPs including Imran Hussain and Clive Lewis criticised the remarks, with Hussain likening them to "National Front-style" discrimination and Lewis warning that weakening rights would harm workers. Lib Dem business spokeswoman Sarah Olney, Labour MP Alex Sobel and union leaders Paul Nowak and Christina McAnea also condemned the comments, and Farage has not retracted his position while remaining leader of Reform UK.

Laila Cunningham condemned over burqa stop and search remarks and "Muslim city" comments

Category: discriminatory remark

Location: London

Laila Cunningham said that women wearing the burqa should be subject to police stop and search, telling The Standard's podcast: "It has to be assumed that if you're hiding your face, you're hiding it for a criminal reason." She said she would look to ban face coverings if she could, and offered no evidence for the assumption of criminality. She also said parts of London "feel like a Muslim city", citing signs in other languages and burqas sold in markets, and said there should be "one civic culture" which "should be British". Muslim organisations and politicians condemned the remarks. Baroness Shaista Gohir, crossbench peer and chief executive of the Muslim Women's Network UK, called them "dangerous" and a "dog whistle" to racists, and said her charity had removed signage and staff photographs from its offices after a sharp rise in abusive and threatening messages. Critics said the comments risked exposing Muslim women to hostility and police suspicion on the basis of their dress.

Nigel Farage affirms employers should be allowed to discriminate by nationality

Category: xenophobia

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said on 13 January 2026 that he does not retract comments made in 2015 that employers should be able to choose staff on the basis of nationality and that race equality laws should be removed. He said he still believes Britain should 'put British workers first' and stood by his earlier remarks. Anti-racism groups and unions criticised the remarks, with Dr Shabna Begum calling the position a dangerous trajectory and the TUC general secretary Paul Nowak describing it as morally abhorrent. Green peer Natalie Bennett said Farage was waving the flag for prejudice, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said he wanted to rip up anti-discrimination legislation, and the 2015 comments had previously been condemned by then-MP Nadhim Zahawi, who this week defected to Reform UK.

Nigel Farage accuses Rachel Reeves of 'racial slurs' and defends limiting child benefits to British parents

Category: xenophobia

On 9 January 2026 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, posted a video on X and a tweet responding to comments by Chancellor Rachel Reeves about his party's stance on the two-child benefit cap. He said Ms Reeves had used "racial slurs against us", repeated his claim that around 50% of those who would receive more money if the cap is removed have overseas parents, and argued the policy would cost the British economy; he framed Reform's position as limiting benefit entitlement to British parents working full time. Ms Reeves had earlier accused Mr Farage of racism in relation to Reform's proposal, saying she did not care about a child's skin colour and questioning whether he would deny payments on that basis. Reform's head of policy Zia Yusuf accused Ms Reeves of equating Britishness with race and called for Sir Keir Starmer to sack her, while a Labour source said Mr Farage wanted to "plunge hundreds of thousands of children into poverty"; Parliament was due to vote on the two-child cap the following week.

Nigel Farage says child benefit cap should only be lifted for British-born parents

Category: racism

On 8 January 2026 Nigel Farage said Reform UK would vote against lifting the two-child benefits cap unless both parents in a household were born in the UK and working full-time. He set out the condition as both parents having been born in the UK and being in full-time work before the cap could be removed. SNP leader John Swinney described the comments as "basic racism" and said he would have none of it. Malcolm Offord defended the position as "completely colour blind", saying it aimed to prioritise British nationals who had paid into the system, and Reform UK said it would oppose the UK Government's decision to end the cap.

Companies linked to Laila Cunningham struck off after failure to file legally required documents

Category: financial conduct concern

Location: London

Days after being unveiled as Reform UK's candidate for Mayor of London, it emerged that several companies linked to Laila Cunningham had been struck off by Companies House after failing to file legally required documents. Kitchin Table Ltd, jointly owned and directed by Cunningham and her husband, was dissolved in August 2024 following compulsory strike-off action. MGIC Ltd, of which she was a director, was struck off in August 2023. Failing to file company accounts is a criminal offence under UK law, although prosecution is rare and strike-off is the more common outcome. Cunningham told Times Radio she "didn't break companies' law". The reporting raised questions about the business record of a candidate campaigning on competence and law and order.

Nigel Farage threatens civil servants with prosecution and pension loss over asylum decisions

Category: intimidation bullying

In December 2025 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said civil servants who "wilfully ignored" the criminal background of asylum seekers could face criminal prosecution and the total loss of their pensions. He said he would not allow the safety of women and girls to be sacrificed and set out a proposal for a new offence of "dishonestly determining an asylum claim" carrying up to two years in prison, alongside plans to strip pensions from the most "egregious" officials. Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's head of policy, echoed Farage's position and accused the Home Office of granting asylum to people with violent histories. A government spokesperson defended the work of the Civil Service, noting recent removals and increased asylum-related returns, and the measures remain Reform UK's policy proposals rather than enacted law.

Richard Tice refuses to apologise for calling Nigel Farage's classmates 'liars'

Category: inflammatory language

On 10 December 2025 Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, told LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr that it was "nonsense" he had made Nigel Farage's life harder by calling Farage's former classmates "liars" after historical allegations of racist behaviour. He said he did not regret the comments, refused to apologise when asked, and described the accusations as "made-up twaddle". The remarks were made during a live broadcast interview. The claims relate to allegations by more than 20 people that Farage engaged in racist or antisemitic behaviour at Dulwich College decades earlier, including Peter Ettedgui's claim that Farage told him "Hitler was right." Tice said Farage later produced counter-evidence, reiterated on BBC Radio 4 that telling a Jewish classmate "Hitler was right" would be racial abuse but called the specific allegations fabricated, and criticised a previous Emma Barnett interview; no apology from Tice or party disciplinary action has been reported.

Pochin told the Commons digital ID risked "mass state surveillance"

Category: factual inaccuracy

Location: Westminster Hall

In a Westminster Hall debate on digital ID on 8 December 2025, Sarah Pochin said the scheme would not solve illegal working, and on social media said the cards "will not address illegal migration" and instead "risk creating a system of mass state surveillance" that threatened the privacy and personal data of British citizens. Campaign group HOPE not hate and The New World also recorded her claiming that digital ID would stop people buying airline tickets, a claim with no basis in the published proposals. The pattern is familiar: a legitimate privacy argument inflated with assertions the evidence does not support.

Sources: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2025-12-08a.7.1 https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/sarah-pochin/debate/2025-12-08/commons/westminster-hall/digital-id https://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/25682861.thousands-halton-oppose-digital-id-mp-speaks-parliament/

Tice called allegations about Farage's schooldays 'made-up twaddle' on Radio 4

Category: inappropriate behaviour

Location: BBC Radio 4, London

On 4 December 2025 Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and dismissed allegations that Nigel Farage had made racist and antisemitic remarks as a pupil at Dulwich College as "made-up twaddle". The allegations came from more than two dozen of Farage's school contemporaries, first reported by the Guardian, and included a claim that Farage told a Jewish classmate "Hitler was right". Asked whether such a remark would amount to racial abuse, Tice said it would. He nevertheless characterised the accounts as fabricated. The allegations remain contested testimony and have not been the subject of any legal or disciplinary finding.

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/04/reform-uk-deputy-richard-tice-farage-antisemitism-allegations-made-up-twaddle https://www.itv.com/news/2025-12-04/reform-deputy-dismisses-farage-schoolboy-antisemitism-allegations-as-made-up https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/04/farage-turns-on-broadcasters-racism-allegations-bbc

Nigel Farage says pupils not speaking English are 'the cultural smashing of Glasgow'

Category: racism

On 3 December 2025 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, posted on the party's social media that nearly one in three pupils in Glasgow do not speak English as their first language and described this as "the cultural smashing of Glasgow", saying it was "turning it into a completely different city". He made the remarks ahead of a planned visit to Scotland and said he would make the issue a focus of Reform UK’s Holyrood campaign. Farage cited council figures showing around 29 per cent of Glasgow pupils spoke English as an additional language. Maggie Chapman, the Scottish Greens MSP, accused him of "picking on children" and of setting a "deeply racist agenda", while Glasgow City Council defended the city’s diversity and said many pupils are fluent and receive specialist support.

David Cumming resigned Durham seat after reports of very low attendance

Category: party management issue

Location: Durham

David Cumming was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Durham in May 2025 and resigned his seat around the turn of the year to take up a job overseas, triggering a by-election. Reports at the time noted that his attendance in the period before his departure was around 20 per cent. Reform UK has not published a response to the attendance figures.

Sources: https://x.com/reformexposed/status/2029773672857186346

Richard Tice said there is 'over-diagnosis' of SEND children and called ear defenders 'insane'

Category: discriminatory remark

On 17 November 2025 Richard Tice, Reform UK deputy leader and the MP for Boston and Skegness, gave a speech and a Q&A at Westminster in which he said there has been an "over-diagnosis" of children with special educational needs and disabilities. He described the sight of children wearing ear defenders in classrooms as "insane", suggested some parents were exploiting the SEND system to obtain VAT exemptions or motability vehicles, criticised formal labelling, and questioned the use of medication for some young people. Education and disability organisations including the NEU, Sense, the National Autistic Society and ADHD UK criticised his remarks as inaccurate, stigmatising and, in one case, "lies". Tice said he must not "generalise" and acknowledged there are cases where medication is appropriate while arguing there is over-diagnosis and over-medication; he remains Reform UK's deputy leader and MP for Boston and Skegness.

Lee Anderson vows Reform will end small boats 'invasion' once and for all

Category: xenophobia

On 14 November 2025, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson vowed that a Reform government would "march into the Home Office" and make what he called the "invasion" of Britain "a problem of the past". He criticised Labour for, in his words, incentivising illegal migration with "free hotels, free clothes, and warm meals" and called for "secure borders and mass deportations". The comments were made in response to Home Office figures on a UK-France returns scheme, which the Home Secretary said had seen 113 people deported and 84 returned via legal routes, while more than 8,000 people have arrived by small boats since the first return. Labour MP Shabana Mahmood hailed the deportations as a "milestone" and said the scheme was working, pledging to remove those who entered illegally; Anderson remains a Reform UK MP.

Nigel Farage nods at PMQs as David Lammy criticises Reform MP's 'racist' language

Category: racism

At Prime Minister's Questions on 5 November 2025 in the House of Commons, Nigel Farage appeared to nod when Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy criticised the language used by Reform MP Sarah Pochin during a TalkTV appearance the previous month. The exchange took place during a question about the conduct of Kent County Council. Ms Pochin apologised for any offence and said her comments were "phrased poorly", while also repeating her view that many adverts are unrepresentative of British society. No formal sanction against Mr Farage was reported following the nod; the incident occurred amid broader criticism of Reform's conduct on Kent County Council.

Nigel Farage urges cut to minimum wage for 18–20-year-olds

Category: discriminatory remark

On 3 November 2025 at a press conference in the City of London, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the Government should consider cutting the minimum wage for young people to boost aspiration and business. He said "There’s an argument the minimum wage is too high for younger workers," and urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to either lower the minimum wage for 18–20-year-olds or lift the cap at which employers pay National Insurance. Young people aged 18–20 are currently entitled to a minimum wage of £10 an hour. Farage made the remarks while criticising proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy, calling for tax cuts for high-earning "young professionals," and outlining plans to reduce public spending and welfare. He told the Chancellor to "do one or the other," and there was no immediate public response from the Chancellor. If implemented, the proposal would reduce the legal pay floor for 18–20-year-olds currently protected by the National Minimum Wage.

Nigel Farage scapegoats migrants in City speech outlining Reform UK vision

Category: xenophobia

Nigel Farage gave a speech to a City of London audience on 3 November 2025 in which he presented what he called Reform’s "vision" for Britain. He claimed UK GDP rose only because of immigration, said migration had "made the average Briton poorer," and repeated a figure of £200bn for benefits to refugees given permanent leave to remain, a figure the organisation that produced it later withdrew. He set out policy positions including deregulation of financial markets, reversing non-domicile tax changes, cuts to employment protections and public spending, and loosening oversight on banking and cryptocurrencies. The speech blamed immigrants rather than employers or low wages for poor productivity and included derogatory references to migrants; there was no immediate response from Farage or Reform UK and no formal consequence reported.

Alexander Jones suggested Black Britons could not be English

Category: racism

In early November 2025, following a mass stabbing on the Doncaster to London King’s Cross train, Reform UK councillor Alexander Jones posted on Facebook saying the individuals involved were "not English" and "Black and of Caribbean descent". In replies he wrote that being English required Anglo-Saxon "lineage" and "heritage", remarks that were later deleted from his account. The posts were deleted and Jones later posted on Facebook that his earlier post was "open to interpretations" and he "apologise[d] for any offence caused." A Doncaster Labour spokesperson and local community groups condemned the comments as discriminatory, Reform UK did not respond directly to requests for comment, and Jones remains a councillor who had been Reform’s Doncaster mayoral candidate earlier in 2025.

Recorded incident

Category: hate speech

Location: Essex; Reform UK headquarters, Westminster, London

Aaron Lee Taylor, a Reform UK activist who volunteered at the party’s head office and served as treasurer for Harwich and North Essex, repeatedly shared material online praising Adolf Hitler and denying the Holocaust. His X account contained clips of Hitler’s speeches, an image captioned “I gave it my all. Now it’s time for you to give it your all,” posts reading “Hitler was right” and “HEIL HITLER,” and a post saying “Amen to the white race.” On 1 November 2025 he posted a racist rhyme that began “If it’s black send it back / If it’s brown shoot it down / If it’s white it’s perfectly alright,” and he shared footage of Hitler and Nazi salutes. Taylor met Nigel Farage at his Essex tanning salon in January 2026 and attended Reform UK’s Westminster office on 10 March 2026, where he appeared alongside the party’s economics spokesman Robert Jenrick. We understand Taylor has since been removed from his role within Reform UK and is no longer a member.

Faten Hameed calls to put illegal immigrants in camps and deport them

Category: xenophobia

At a Glasgow Reform UK branch meeting on 2025-10-30, Faten Hameed, a Reform UK candidate hoping to stand in Scottish elections, said "Put them in camps and deport them" in reference to illegal immigrants. She also said asylum seekers "shouldn't be here" and that Scotland is "drained". Her remarks were made during the Glasgow branch meeting, and other members at the meeting echoed "natives first" priorities for housing over migrants. She is a Reform UK candidate hoping to stand in Scottish elections.

Danny Kruger says 'LGBT-supporting' parties could form 'appalling' nationalist government

Category: discriminatory remark

On 28 October 2025, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger told a party press conference that after the next election left-wing groups could "get together and have some sort of appalling, Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting, nationalist party" that would threaten the United Kingdom. He said a vote for any other party "risks this kaleidoscope of catastrophe," and positioned Reform UK as the only alternative. The remarks drew criticism from across the political spectrum, with Labour MPs Sir Chris Bryant and Polly Billington describing the comments as divisive and out of step with modern Britain, and a Liberal Democrat source calling the language "disgraceful and completely unacceptable." The controversy has arisen amid wider criticism of Reform UK, including recent remarks by MP Sarah Pochin, and party leader Nigel Farage was asked to state whether he agreed with Kruger’s comments.

Danny Kruger equates support for LGBT rights with Hamas in public remarks

Category: discriminatory remark

Reform MP Danny Kruger said during Reform UK's membership drive over the weekend that the UK could be led by an "appalling Hamas-supporting, LGBT-supporting nationalist party". The remarks were shown in a clip shared on Reform UK's YouTube page in which he listed support for LGBT rights alongside backing for Hamas. Labour MPs, including Polly Billington, criticised the comments as "outdated and out of line" and called on Reform leader Nigel Farage to condemn them. Kruger defended the remarks at a press conference in London as highlighting what he called incoherence among opposing parties; Farage has faced calls to act and the party has been contacted about Kruger's comment.

Nigel Farage calls masked Tower Hamlets protesters 'foreign invading army'

Category: xenophobia

On 26 October 2025 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, said at a Westminster press conference that masked protesters who had marched through Tower Hamlets were "like a foreign invading army" and described the scenes as "one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen in my whole life." He also said the display amounted to "urging the mass wipe out of huge numbers of Jewish people." The remarks followed a demonstration by hundreds from the Bangladeshi community in East London after a UKIP march in the borough was banned. The comments came amid a racism row within Reform UK over remarks by MP Sarah Pochin, whom Farage resisted calls to suspend while saying her wording was "wrong and ugly" but that he did not believe her intent was racist. Political leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised Pochin and said Farage had questions to answer. Farage remains Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton, and no disciplinary action against Pochin was announced at the time.

Sarah Pochin criticised for remarks about Black and Asian people in adverts

Category: racism

On 25 October 2025 Sarah Pochin, the Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby, told a TalkTV phone-in that adverts 'full of black people, full of Asian people' 'drive me mad' and said such adverts 'don’t reflect our society'. The remarks were broadcast and drew immediate public criticism. Pochin apologised on 26 October on social media, saying her comments were 'phrased poorly' and not intended to offend while reiterating a critique of the advertising industry's 'DEI' practices. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the remarks as 'shocking racism' and Labour chair Anna Turley demanded Nigel Farage withdraw the party whip; Farage said he was 'unhappy' and called the wording 'ugly' but declined to label the comments racist or to take further disciplinary action, and the Liberal Democrats tabled a censure motion in Parliament.

Nigel Farage says UK should shoot down Russian jets in Nato airspace

Category: inflammatory language

On 17 October 2025 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said in an interview that Britain should "shoot down" Russian jets if they entered Nato airspace. He repeated the comment in a social media video posted ahead of the broadcast. Labour Party Chair Anna Turley criticised Farage, accusing him of repeating pro-Russian talking points and of trying to backtrack on earlier remarks about Vladimir Putin. The comments came amid scrutiny of Reform UK after its former Welsh leader Nathan Gill pleaded guilty to taking payments to make pro-Russian statements; Farage said he would support spending frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine and that he might deploy British troops as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force, and the party has not announced any disciplinary action.

Nigel Farage warns Palestinian migrants could include 'Hamas-style operatives'

Category: xenophobia

On 2025-10-14 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said on his GB News show that Britain faces a national security crisis as Palestinian small boat crossings have risen, claiming crossings are up 1,000% this year and suggesting some young men arriving could be "Hamas-style operatives". He said the number of Palestinian asylum claims and students coming to the UK added to the security risk and framed the issue as a difficult debate. Farage also argued certain crimes and offences are more prevalent among particular nationalities and said the government should take account of that, while urging caution about who is arriving in the country. No immediate response or sanction from Reform UK or the broadcaster was reported and Farage remains leader of Reform UK; there is no record in the source of any formal investigation or consequence resulting from the remarks.

Nigel Farage accuses teachers of 'poisoning our kids' and calls them 'Marxist'

Category: inflammatory language

On 10 October 2025 Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said in an interview that 'Marxist' teachers were 'poisoning our kids' by the way they addressed race issues in schools. He made the remarks while discussing education and culture in schools. Farage made the comments in his capacity as leader of Reform UK and said he expected teachers to strike if he became prime minister. He framed the statements as a critique of how race issues are taught in schools.

Robert Ford expelled by Reform UK after criticism of party leadership

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Robert Ford was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Kent in May 2025, was suspended, and was then expelled in October 2025 as one of five councillors removed following a leaked video of the council leader. The party said those expelled had brought it into disrepute, with reporting citing his criticism of what he called its "toxic" and "incompetent" leadership. He later joined Restore Britain with other former Reform UK councillors in Kent, forming a new group on the county council.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c867g72nzq4o

Bill Barratt expelled by Reform UK alongside Robert Ford

Category: party management issue

Location: Staffordshire

Bill Barratt, elected as a Reform UK councillor in May 2025, was expelled from the party in October 2025 alongside Robert Ford. The party accused those removed of undermining it through criticism of what they described as its "toxic" and "incompetent" leadership, and he was among those suspended over a leaked video of a council leader. Some subsequent coverage reported that he joined the Conservatives after his removal. Reform UK has not published the findings of any disciplinary process.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c867g72nzq4o

Oliver Bradshaw expelled in Reform UK's Kent group removals

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Oliver Bradshaw was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Kent in May 2025 and was suspended before being expelled in October 2025, as part of a group removed after a leaked video showed the council leader shouting and swearing. The party alleged dishonest behaviour by those involved. He later joined Restore Britain with other former Reform UK councillors in Kent, forming a new group on the county council. Those expelled have rejected the party's account of events.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1d551weko

Paul Thomas expelled in Reform UK's Kent group removals

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Paul Thomas was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Kent in May 2025 and was suspended before being expelled in October 2025, among a group of councillors removed after a leaked video of the council leader. The party alleged dishonest behaviour by those involved. He later joined Restore Britain with six other former Reform UK councillors in Kent to form a new group on the county council. The councillors have disputed the party's characterisation of their conduct.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1d551weko

Robert Jenrick calls for ban on the burqa

Category: discriminatory remark

Robert Jenrick called for a ban on the burqa while speaking at the Conservative Party conference, urging that the full-face veil should be prohibited in public. The remark targeted a practice associated with Muslim women and was made in a political speech to a party audience. The proposal drew criticism from campaigners, commentators and politicians who described it as racist and Islamophobic and called for an apology. Some commentators also criticised Conservative figures, including Kemi Badenoch, for their responses to Jenrick's comments; there is no record in the sources of a disciplinary sanction arising from the remark.

Maxine Fothergill expelled in Reform UK's Kent group removals

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Maxine Fothergill was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Kent in May 2025 and was suspended before being expelled in October 2025, as part of a group removed after a leaked video of the council leader. The party alleged a pattern of dishonest behaviour by those involved. She later joined Restore Britain with six other former Reform UK councillors in Kent to form a new group on the county council. The councillors concerned have disputed the party's account.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1d551weko

Isabella Kemp suspended by Reform UK before joining breakaway Kent group

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Isabella Kemp was elected as a Reform UK councillor in Kent in May 2025 and was suspended by the party during the disciplinary action that led to a series of expulsions in October 2025. She subsequently joined Restore Britain with six other former Reform UK councillors in Kent, forming a new group on Kent County Council. Those involved have rejected the party's characterisation of their conduct.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1d551weko

Brian Black expelled in Reform UK's Kent group removals

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Brian Black was elected as a Reform UK councillor for Maidstone Rural South on Kent County Council in May 2025. He was expelled in October 2025 as part of a group of councillors removed after a leaked video of the council leader, with the party alleging dishonest behaviour by those involved. He later joined Restore Britain with other former Reform UK councillors in Kent, forming a new group on the county council. The expelled councillors have disputed the party's account of their conduct.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1d551weko

Robert Bloom charged with racially or religiously aggravated harassment after standing down

Category: racism

Location: North Northamptonshire

Robert Bloom was elected to North Northamptonshire Council for Reform UK in May 2025 and stood down in August 2025, prompting a by-election. In October 2025 he was charged with two counts of racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence following an allegation of racial abuse. The charges are allegations and have not been proven.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62541w6548o

Bill Barrett expelled by Reform UK after suspension over leaked video

Category: party management issue

Location: Kent

Bill Barrett, elected for Reform UK on Kent County Council in May 2025, was suspended by the party on suspicion of leaking a video clip of the council leader. He denied being the source of the recording. He was then expelled in October 2025 by email from Reform UK headquarters, which said he and other councillors had undermined the party's interests and brought it into disrepute through criticism of what they called its "toxic" and "incompetent" leadership.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c867g72nzq4o

Patrick Lambert suspended then expelled by Reform UK in Northumberland

Category: party management issue

Location: Northumberland

Patrick Lambert was elected as the Reform UK councillor for Norham and Islandshires in Northumberland in May 2025. The whip was suspended in late September 2025 pending an investigation into an alleged breach of Reform group rules. He was later expelled alongside fellow councillor Nicole Brooke, during a period of reported disarray in the party's Northumberland group. Reform UK did not set out its findings publicly.

Sources: https://northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politics/chaos-engulfs-reform-uk-in-northumberland/

Nicole Brooke suspended then expelled by Reform UK in Northumberland

Category: party management issue

Location: Northumberland

Nicole Brooke was elected as the Reform UK councillor for Berwick North in Northumberland in May 2025. The party suspended the whip in late September 2025 pending an investigation into an alleged breach of Reform group rules. She was later expelled from the party and issued an open statement about her removal. Reform UK did not publish the outcome of its investigation.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yj927wje5o

Arrested at Basildon Council offices on suspicion of stalking and harassment; no further action taken

Category: intimidation bullying

Location: Basildon Council offices, Basildon, Essex

Sam Journet, a Reform UK councillor in Basildon, was arrested inside Basildon Council offices on 2025-09-08. Essex Police said the arrest was on suspicion of stalking and harassment and a public order offence, and that the investigation "relates to allegations of a man aged in his 30s being harassed online and in person." Basildon Council said it had introduced restrictions limiting access to staff-only areas after concerns about inappropriate conduct, and that despite those restrictions "one Councillor repeatedly disregarded the rules" and "was arrested and removed from the premises by police." The council said the action followed "repeated public disorder in the council offices, harassment of staff and councillors and trespassing into areas of the council they are not permitted to be in." Journet has frequently clashed verbally with members of the ruling Labour group, including leader Gavin Callaghan. Essex Police confirmed in November 2025 that the case would be taken no further "due to evidential difficulties" and that it was closed. Journet was not charged, denies wrongdoing, and has said he was cleared and has demanded an apology from Basildon Labour and the council leader.

Lee Anderson said people feel threatened by other religions

Category: hate speech

Lee Anderson (mp, East Midlands) said at his party's conference in Birmingham that many people in the UK feel threatened by other religions, linking that anxiety to changing demographics, flags and a revival of Christian identity. He made the remarks while speaking on a Centre for Social Justice panel about young men, religion and social change, and said he understood why people were returning to church and that Christianity should be promoted. The comments came alongside other conference remarks about celebrating the country's Judeo-Christian heritage by Reform party figures, and Anderson also used the event to criticise the Online Safety Act. Anderson said he did not personally believe in God but supported promoting Christianity; there is no record in the source of any party disciplinary response or sanction relating to these remarks.

Angela Nash quit Reform UK saying staying would compromise her principles

Category: party management issue

Location: Devon

Angela Nash was elected as the Reform UK councillor for Wonford and St Loyes in Devon in May 2025 and quit the party in September 2025, saying that remaining would "compromise my own principles". She sat as an independent before joining Advance UK. Reform UK has not published a detailed response to her statement.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3zy18vn0o

Tice suggested Ukraine drop its NATO bid as an 'uncomfortable compromise' with Putin

Category: other

In September 2025 Richard Tice said that if NATO membership for Ukraine was Vladimir Putin's "absolute break point", Kyiv should accept an "uncomfortable compromise" and set the ambition aside. The position went further than Nigel Farage, who had described NATO membership as almost essential. Labour figures accused Reform of descending into Putin apologism. Earlier, in March 2025, following the Trump-Zelensky exchange in the Oval Office, Tice suggested Ukraine could grant Russia a long lease over occupied territory as part of a settlement. He has separately described Putin in the Commons as a "vile dictator" and a "most evil, evil villain".

Sources: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/no-nato-ukraine-take-putins-assets-says-reform https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/reform-descending-putin-apologism-anger-35868703 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/vladimir-putin-richard-tice-nigel-farage-ukraine-keir-starmer-b2706032.html

Danny Kruger said Muslim-majority areas represented an 'entirely un-British' way of life

Category: racism

In 2025, while explaining Reform UK's proposed mass deportation policy, Reform MP for East Wiltshire Danny Kruger said: "My concern is when whole cities essentially become Muslim. We’re getting a segregated society. We’re seeing…whole communities living an entirely un-British life." The remark was made in the course of discussing the party's migration proposals. The comment came amid Reform's pledge to deport more than 650,000 people and proposals to end indefinite leave to remain. Kruger had defected from the Conservatives in September 2025 and was one of 13 former Tory MPs to join Reform; his statement highlighted the racial dimension of the party's migration proposals and his position as a Reform MP at the time.

Tice said Reform would do a deportation deal with the Taliban

Category: inflammatory language

Location: LBC

On 27 August 2025 Richard Tice told LBC that Reform UK would be open to paying the Taliban to accept deported migrants, saying "you don't have to like them". On 1 September 2025 he described paying the Taliban and Iran to take deportees as a "sensible transaction" made in the interests of the British people. Nigel Farage subsequently rowed back on any suggestion that women and girls would be deported to such countries.

Sources: https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reform-taliban-migrants-richard-tice-5HjdBWx_2/ https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/taliban-migrants-sensible-transaction-tice-5HjdBjF_2/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/taliban-reform-nigel-farage-richard-tice-hamas-b2817801.html

Paul Bean suspended by Reform UK over social media comments about asylum seekers

Category: social media conduct

Location: Durham

Paul Bean, a Reform UK councillor for Crook in Durham who also works as a civil servant processing asylum claims, was suspended by the party on 19 August 2025 pending an investigation into social media comments criticising asylum seekers. Campaigners said the comments breached civil service impartiality rules. He later joined Advance UK and is listed on the council website under that party or as not aligned to a group. Reform UK has not published the outcome of its investigation.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyvxy6npllo

Asked to apologise after posting footage of a disabled young man in Basildon town centre

Category: inappropriate behaviour

Location: Basildon

Sam Journet, Reform UK's group leader in Basildon, posted footage on social media of a young man with disabilities in Basildon town centre in what Byline Times reported was an alleged attempt to shame him. Following the episode, Journet was asked to apologise and to undergo council training. Reporting in April 2026 said he did not appear to have apologised, had not undertaken the training, and that the footage remained online.

Tice accepted hospitality at the French Riviera home of Conservative donor Lubov Chernukhin

Category: undisclosed interest

Location: French Riviera, France

In August 2025 Richard Tice accepted hospitality worth £1,400 at the French Riviera property of Lubov Chernukhin, comprising £1,000 of accommodation and £400 of meals between 4 and 6 August. The hospitality was declared in the register of members' financial interests. Lubov Chernukhin is a long-standing Conservative Party donor and the wife of Vladimir Chernukhin, a former Russian deputy finance minister. UnHerd reported the stay on 20 August 2025 and reported Tice's account of discussions touching on energy projects. The declaration was lawful and no wrongdoing has been alleged by any authority.

Sources: https://unherd.com/newsroom/richard-tice-holidays-with-russian-oligarch-on-riviera/ https://www.inkl.com/news/richard-tice-accepted-stay-at-french-riviera-home-of-tory-donor

Nigel Farage: Reform training told activists 'Don’t drink and tweet' and to ignore 'no junk mail' signs

Category: social media conduct

Leaked Reform UK training videos produced in July and August 2025 advised activists to "don’t drink and tweet", to treat social media posts like press releases, to ignore 'no junk mail' signs when delivering leaflets and to avoid wearing party branding while canvassing. The materials were part of the Reform UK Centre of Excellence digital training catalogue and remained accessible to activists when the materials were made public. The guidance appears alongside instructions that vetting checks focus on online profiles only and that parties should delay announcing council vacancies to maximise campaign time. The videos coincided with Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election campaign and ongoing standards complaints against him; no formal party response is recorded and the materials raise questions about candidate screening and efforts to discourage public scrutiny.

David Maclean resigned Isle of Wight seat amid pressure over committee non-attendance

Category: party management issue

Location: Isle of Wight

David Maclean won the Lake North ward on the Isle of Wight for Reform UK in a by-election in early May 2025 and resigned in August 2025 after coming under pressure over non-attendance at children's services committee meetings. Reform UK said he stepped down for personal reasons following a bereavement, and another Reform UK councillor defended him against what was described as unfair criticism.

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4glqvldl3zo