Nigel Farage’s leadership of Reform UK is under scrutiny as new polling reveals deep-seated racial views among party members, raising questions about the future direction of the party and its appeal to a broader electorate. As Farage seeks to attract moderate voters, he faces challenges from both within and outside his political ranks, particularly from more hardline factions.
Polling Insights Highlight Racial Sentiments
A recent survey conducted by the polling firm Survation has revealed alarming attitudes within Reform UK. More than half of party members—54%—believe that non-white British citizens born abroad should either be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave the UK. The poll, which sampled 629 members between 29 January and 16 February, also indicated that 22% of respondents hold similar views about non-white citizens whose parents were born in the UK.
This data, published by the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate (HnH), underscores the ideological rifts developing within Reform UK as Farage attempts to moderate his party’s image in a bid to capture centrist voters. As of December, Reform UK boasted around 270,000 members.
Internal Tensions and Rising Competition
Nick Lowles, chief executive of HnH, remarked on the potential for discontent among party members if Farage’s attempts at moderation dilute the party’s core policies. “With a dilution of Reform’s policies to win more moderate voters, you could see a number of their members becoming quite disillusioned,” he stated.
The poll results suggest that Farage’s efforts to appeal to the centre may not sit well with a membership that holds significant support for right-wing figures such as Rupert Lowe and controversial activist Tommy Robinson. Remarkably, two-thirds of members view Lowe positively, following his departure from Reform to establish Restore Britain, a party advocating for mass deportations.
The Rise of Racial Nationalism
HnH has voiced concerns that the views emerging from Reform UK signal a troubling trend towards a more explicitly racial nationalism that seeks to define English identity through notions of “blood and ancestry.” The report warns that such ideologies pose a significant risk, as they can lead to more extreme proposals such as “remigration,” a concept that seeks to reframe ethnic cleansing in bureaucratic terms.
The increasing prominence of racially charged rhetoric from right-wing activists, particularly in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, is contributing to a growing mainstream acceptance of these views. Figures like Matthew Goodwin and Suella Braverman have furthered this discourse, with Goodwin controversially asserting that UK-born minority ethnic individuals are not inherently British.
Mobilisation of the Far Right
The far-right landscape in the UK is shifting, with HnH reporting that it is now “bigger, bolder, and more confrontational.” The report highlights significant events, including the “unite the kingdom” rally led by Tommy Robinson, which attracted over 150,000 participants—marking the largest far-right demonstration in British history.
Polling data indicates that a quarter of the British population aligns positively with Robinson’s ideology, illustrating a substantial base of support. As Robinson continues to garner attention in the United States, where he has received favourable treatment from influential right-wing figures, the potential for further far-right mobilisations in the UK remains high.
The report also notes the persistence of anti-migrant protests, which have seen a resurgence across the country. Over 250 such demonstrations were tracked throughout 2025, with the potential for an increase as summer approaches.
Why it Matters
The findings from this polling and the broader trends within Reform UK reflect a critical juncture for British politics. As Nigel Farage navigates the complex landscape of right-wing politics, the party’s internal divisions and the rise of more extreme ideologies pose challenges not only for its electoral prospects but also for the broader societal discourse on race and identity in the UK. The implications of these developments extend beyond party lines, signalling a potential shift in how issues of race and nationality are addressed within the public sphere and political arena.
