A recent survey has unveiled alarming sentiments within the Reform UK party, revealing that a significant portion of its members advocate for the forced removal of non-white British citizens. Conducted by Survation for the charity Hope Not Hate, the findings highlight a stark divergence between the views of Reform members and the broader British public.
Disturbing Poll Results
The report, titled “State of Hate: It Could Happen Here,” shows that 20% of Reform UK members believe non-white British citizens—specifically those whose parents were born in the UK—should be either forcibly removed or encouraged to leave the country. The sentiment is even more pronounced regarding non-white British citizens born abroad, with over half of the party members supporting their removal, compared to just 24% for white citizens.
Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate, commented on the findings, emphasising that the attitudes within the Reform party are significantly more pessimistic and extreme than those of the general British populace. He noted, “While there is substantial support for leader Nigel Farage, the hardline views of many party members could push Reform UK further to the right or lead to disillusionment if they perceive a shift towards moderation.”
Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny
The poll follows a recent speech by Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, in which he described the UK as being “invaded” by migrants. Yusuf outlined the party’s immigration strategy, which includes plans for a mass deportation initiative. If elected, the party aims to establish a “UK Deportation Command” tasked with removing up to 288,000 individuals illegally residing in the country each year.
Reform’s immigration proposals include imposing “visa freezes” on countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Syria if they refuse to accept back individuals without legal rights to stay in the UK. The party projects that over 600,000 people could be deported within its first term.
Attitudes Towards Diversity
The survey also highlighted a concerning trend regarding interpersonal relations among party members. Nearly half (46%) of Reform UK members expressed discomfort with mingling among people of different ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds in their communities. This contrasts sharply with broader national sentiment, where 77% of Britons reported a positive attitude towards cultural diversity.
Furthermore, two-thirds of Reform members have a favourable opinion of Rupert Lowe, the former Reform MP who leads the rival right-wing party, Restore Britain. The findings also revealed that over half (54%) of those surveyed favour a strong leader who can bypass parliamentary authority.
Shift to the Right
Since the 2024 general election, where Reform UK secured over four million votes, many observers, including Lowles, believe the party has shifted further right in its policy offerings. Lowles described their current stance as “probably the most extreme from a major political party” in recent memory. Alarmingly, 66% of Reform UK members foresee the possibility of civil unrest in Britain, with 8% convinced a civil war could erupt within the next five years.
The contrasting views within the party raise questions about the direction in which Reform UK is heading, particularly as it claims to have over 270,000 members and leads recent voting intention polls with 23%.
Why it Matters
The implications of these findings are profound, pointing to a rising tide of extremism within significant factions of British politics. As the Reform UK party gains traction, the attitudes of its members could potentially influence national policy and social cohesion. Such divisive sentiments pose a challenge to the values of inclusivity and tolerance that underpin British society, necessitating urgent discourse on the future of political extremism in the UK.
