A recent poll has revealed a concerning trend within the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage. The survey, conducted by Survation and published by the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate (HnH), found that over half of Reform members believe non-white British citizens born abroad should be deported or encouraged to leave the country. This includes a significant portion (22%) who support the same for non-white citizens whose parents were born in the UK. The poll, which surveyed 629 Reform members, highlights a divide within the party, with some members advocating for a harder line on immigration and citizenship. The findings come at a time when Farage is trying to appeal to center-ground voters, but is facing pressure from his right flank, including a new hardline party launched by Rupert Lowe. The poll also revealed a positive view of Lowe among two-thirds of Farage's members, who recently formed their own party, Restore Britain, advocating for mass deportations. HnH's report warns of the rise of a more explicitly racial nationalism, defining English identity by 'blood and ancestry'. It highlights the potential danger of this trend, especially with the proposed solutions, such as 'remigration', which is essentially a repackaged version of ethnic cleansing and forced repatriation. The report also draws a link between the racially charged views pushed by far-right activists during the Black Lives Matter backlash and recent interventions by Reform UK figures like Matthew Goodwin and Suella Braverman. Goodwin, who lost a byelection last week, refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds were not necessarily British. Similarly, Braverman, a proud British Asian, wrote in the Telegraph that she was not English. The UK's far-right scene is described as 'bigger, bolder, and more confrontational' by HnH, with Restore Britain creating a new realignment. The group also notes the success of Tommy Robinson's 'unite the kingdom' rally in London, which attracted over 150,000 people, and the growing support for his movement, with a quarter of the British population identifying positively with it. The report concludes by highlighting the persistence of anti-migrant protests throughout 2025, with a warning that the summer months could see a surge in activity.
