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Analysis of Facebook groups supporting Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has uncovered examples of conspiracy theories, anti-Muslim sentiment, and support for the anti-migrant riots that have so far led to hundreds of arrests.
We probed a dozen Reform UK-backing Facebook communities, finding frequent instances of members expressing extreme views on topics from immigration to law and order.
One of the most common findings was the prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment within these groups. Comments such as Britain being “over-run with Muslims,” “becoming an Islamic country,” and arguing “the White British man will live as a minority in his own country” were often met with extensive support.
Equally notable was the level of support for the recent riots expressed by some members. Recent posts on the “Reform UK candidates” page, which has over 2,000 members, include one responding to the riots by saying: “What took you so f*cking long?”
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Another post with dozens of likes condemns the racist riots but adds: “I love that we are rising.”
One of the most-liked recent posts is an image of the late, disgraced former Conservative minister Enoch Powell, whose inflammatory 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech predicted race riots and led him to be thrown out of his party.
Powell quoted a voter saying: “In this country in 15 or 20 years’ time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man”, and appeared to agree.
Without quoting directly from the speech, the post on “Reform UK candidates” says: “Every single day this man is proven more right.”
Also featuring in the group are posts promoting the “protests” which have often descended into violent riots.
They include posts promoting the demonstrations targeting asylum support centres and solicitors this Wednesday night, and promoting last week’s events.
One prominent user has shared conspiracy theories claiming that the 93-year-old Jewish American billionaire George Soros is coordinating the UK riots. 
Posts by other contributors feature Keir Starmer as a sexual slave of the World Economic Forum, playing on a similar conspiracy theory.
In another popular Reform UK group, some users have claimed that the racist riots are being coordinated by a global elite to lead to the “digitisation of the human being.”
Other Reform UK-backing groups have members outraged over being called far-right, a narrative that is being pushed on channels like GB News.
The “Farage is the Best” Facebook group has seen considerable anger over police protection being given to mosques, which have been targeted by far-right rioters over the past week.
In the “Reform UK Our Country’s Future” group, posts from apparent Reform UK activists include stating: “Reform UK is supportive of your White British heritage and identity.”
Posts include promoting the anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth, which seem to falsely equate asylum seekers with killing children (the alleged Southport killer was British-born).
Others appear to boost X-owner Elon Musk’s idea of a race-based civil war.
Some users in the “Reform UK Making Britain Great Again!” group have offered steadfast support to a police officer accused of stamping on a man’s head repeatedly in a recent scandal.
Conspiracy theories and misinformation were also rife within these groups. Members promoted ideas of a “globalist plan to destroy the UK” orchestrated by George Soros, while others accused Labour leader Keir Starmer of being controlled by the World Economic Forum. False information about Muslims and asylum seekers was shared widely, with one post even linking the tragic Southport murders to those seeking refuge.
Disturbingly, some members expressed support for far-right figures such as Enoch Powell and Tommy Robinson. One post promoted Powell as being “right” amid the riots, while another expressed disappointment that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had “called out” Robinson.
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The language across a dozen Reform UK supporter groups analysed by Byline Times include phrases such as “Jihad Starmer,” “Muslim mobs,” and references to an “indigenous population” being thrown around casually. Some even deny the existence of the far-right altogether, claiming it to be “imaginary.”
The Reform UK Clacton group, is a supporters group with an admin who appears to run the official Reform Clacton website for Nigel Farage’s seat. Posts there include supporters saying, apparently without irony, that they hope to move abroad due to the “civil war” in the UK and “invaders” coming to this country.
And posts in “Reform UK Standing with England 2”, include some users appearing to back the riots, with one saying: “Boiling point has been reached” receiving 142 likes.
Some users appear to cherish the accusations of being “thugs.”
But not all posts support the racist riots.
One popular post says they should be peaceful, partly because the violence is “damaging to the party.” Another post in a Reform UK group suggests “targeting” London Mayor Sadiq Khan and PM Keir Starmer instead of rioting.
And the admin of one group urged members to stop posting videos of Tommy Robinson, who has allegedly stirred up much of the unrest. The call for supporters to stop posting Tommy Robinson videos came not out of disagreements with him, but due to the fact that it makes it easy for opponents to dub them “far right” troublemakers. “Which we are not…”
Respondents tend to veer between defending the riots as having a reasonable excuse, calling violence counter-productive, or claiming that the violence is actually from Muslims or being coordinated by the Government.
Some of this tallies with what Reform UK MPs are saying. Lee Anderson claims the riots are not caused by rioters, but “smug politicians” who “have refused to listen.”
Calls for action against Muslims and asylum seekers were also present, with posts targeting asylum legal services and encouraging the boycotting of Halal shops.
However, not all members were supportive of the riots or the extreme views expressed. Some posts opposed the violence, with one declaring, “IT’S DAMAGING THE PARTY,” receiving 121 likes. This suggests that there are those within the Reform UK support base who are concerned about the impact such actions and opinions could have on the party’s reputation.
The findings of this investigation raise serious questions about the prevalence of far-right ideology and anti-Muslim sentiment within the Reform UK support base. The fact that such views are being openly expressed and supported within Facebook groups tied to the party is deeply concerning and warrants further scrutiny.
Reform UK, now led by Nigel Farage MP, has positioned itself as a mainstream political party in recent months, securing five MPs in the July General Election.
But its supporters groups tend to attract extreme views. In many cases, they could be called far right, however much the activists may seethe over the phrase.
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