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As Britain approaches the 1 May local council elections, it faces the alarming rise of a far-right political force. Reform UK, a party that has its roots in anti-EU sentiment and is steeped in Islamophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric, is gaining ground.
With its rise comes a serious threat to Muslims and other minority communities in Britain. The party’s record of Islamophobic rhetoric, racist remarks, and divisive policies represents a danger to social cohesion and the democratic fabric of this country.
Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, was rebranded in 2021 and gained a major boost with its leader Nigel Farage’s return to politics. Since he was elected as an MPS for Clactor, the party has achieved alarming electoral successes.
Most recently, Reform unseated Labour in the Tameside by-election in Greater Manchester and is predicted to make further gains in the Runcorn by-election, which coincides with the local elections.
These victories are not isolated. Reform now holds 113 council seats, including 66 Conservative defections. Polling shows they are rivalling Labour and the Conservatives, and in some areas, even leading.
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This surge mirrors a broader European trend of far-right advances such as the rise of parties like Alternative for Germany (AfD). In the 2024 general election, Reform secured 4.1 million votes, the largest ever vote share for a far-right party in the UK. Recent polls show their support growing, with some placing Reform ahead of both major parties.
Central to Reform’s appeal has been the weaponisation of immigration, Islamophobia and national identity. Reform presents itself as the voice of the forgotten, using sensationalist media coverage and social media to target voters. While most Reform supporters are older white men, support among younger age groups is rising. Reform dominated social media interactions during the election period and are the most boosted UK politicians on X. Their messaging resonates with a demographic increasingly drawn to populist narratives that blame immigrants and minorities for national decline.
Reform’s success has largely been driven by widespread public disillusionment with the political mainstream. Voters frustrated by Conservative failures and disappointed by Labour’s direction, particularly their proposed welfare cuts, have been drawn to Reform. A Hope Not Hate report found 68% of people feel ignored by politicians, a sentiment Reform exploits to push its divisive agenda.
Despite its denials, Reform UK is widely recognised by experts as a far-right party and has been identified as the biggest far-right threat in Britain today. Reform UK has also been embraced by extremist groups who see it as a legitimate path to power. During the 2024 general election, far-right groups and figures, including Tommy Robinson, Britain First, and Patriotic Alternative, urged their followers to support Reform.
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Mark Collett of Patriotic Alternative, praised Reform for campaigning on a platform “more right-wing than the BNP” and encouraged far-right extremists to infiltrate Reform UK to push it further toward far-right extremism. 28% of Reform voters support Tommy Robinson, highlighting the ideological overlap between Reform and fascist movements.
Farage and memb