The UK Reform Party: What Are They Really About?

Origins and Evolution

The Reform UK party, currently led by Nigel Farage, is a right-wing populist political force that has rapidly gained traction in British politics17. Originally founded as the Brexit Party in November 2018, its initial mission was singular: to ensure the UK’s departure from the European Union, ideally via a no-deal Brexit13. The party’s success was immediate in the 2019 European Parliament elections, where it won the most UK seats. However, it failed to secure any MPs in the 2019 general election.

Following the UK’s formal exit from the EU in January 2020, the party rebranded as Reform UK in January 2021, broadening its focus to wider issues of political and institutional reform13. Farage, a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign and former UKIP leader, has been central to the party’s identity and strategy. After a brief period under Richard Tice’s leadership, Farage returned as leader in June 2024, coinciding with a surge in support and the party’s first-ever MPs elected to the House of Commons in the 2024 general election17.

Core Ideology and Principles

Reform UK positions itself firmly on the right of the political spectrum, with a populist agenda that appeals to voters disillusioned with both the Conservative and Labour parties15. The party’s rhetoric centers on the idea that “Britain is broken. Britain needs Reform,” echoing a desire for radical change in governance, immigration, and public spending.

Key principles include:

• Government by consent, with power ultimately residing with the people2.
• Protection of freedoms—speech, faith, expression, and conscience—regardless of circumstance2.
• A commitment to low taxation and value for money in public spending2.
• Strong national defense and border security2.
• Opposition to undue influence from foreign, supranational, or corporate entities2.

Policy Platform

Immigration

Immigration is the cornerstone of Reform UK’s platform. The party advocates a “freeze on immigration,” proposing to halt all non-essential legal migration, with exceptions primarily for health and social care workers456. Other measures include:

• Banning students from bringing family members to the UK6.
• Imposing higher National Insurance contributions on employers hiring foreign workers6.
• Withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights to enable offshore processing and stricter asylum controls56.

Economic Policy

Reform UK promotes a radical shrinking of the state and significant tax cuts:

• Raising the income tax threshold from £12,571 to £20,000, exempting millions from income tax56.
• Scrapping VAT on energy bills and lifting the VAT threshold for businesses to £150,00056.
• Cutting corporation tax from 25% to 20%, with plans to reduce it further to 15%16.
• Abolishing business rates for small and medium-sized high street firms, funded by a new online delivery tax on multinationals6.
• Dramatic reductions in public spending, targeting £50–150 billion in annual savings, including cuts to working-age benefits and foreign aid156.

Energy and Environment

Reform UK is staunchly opposed to the UK’s 2050 net zero target, arguing that scrapping green levies and environmental subsidies will save billions and lower energy prices56. The party supports:

• Fast-tracking North Sea oil and gas licenses.
• Enabling fracking.
• Repealing bans on petrol and diesel cars6.

Institutional Reform

The party’s name reflects its ambition to overhaul British institutions:

• Replacing the House of Lords with a smaller, elected second chamber15.
• Holding a referendum on switching from first-past-the-post to proportional representation15.
• Abolishing the BBC license fee, citing institutional bias15.

Culture and Society

Reform UK has positioned itself in the so-called “culture wars,” opposing what it describes as “woke” ideology:

• Banning the teaching of “transgender ideology” in schools5.
• Scrapping diversity, equality, and inclusion rules in public institutions5.

Other Notable Policies

• Increasing the farming budget, supporting small farms, and restricting EU fishing fleets from British waters1.
• Withdrawing from the World Health Organization unless it is reformed1.

Leadership, Structure, and Funding

Nigel Farage’s leadership is central to the party’s identity and strategy17. The party’s structure has evolved from a limited company, once majority-owned by Farage, to a company limited by guarantee, with Farage and Zia Yusuf as key directors1. Reform UK’s internal democracy has been criticized, as decision-making remains tightly controlled by its leadership, with limited influence for ordinary members1.

Electoral Performance and Public Appeal

Reform UK’s appeal has grown rapidly, particularly among voters disillusioned with the Conservatives and Labour8. In the 2024 general election, the party won five seats in the House of Commons and became the third-largest party by popular vote, capturing 14.3% of the total1. Recent polls have even placed Reform UK ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives, reflecting a broader European trend of rising support for right-wing populist parties49.

The top reasons cited by potential Reform UK voters are a desire for change and concerns about immigration8. The party has successfully positioned itself as the “true opposition” to the political establishment, especially on issues like immigration, cost of living, and institutional reform48.

Criticisms and Controversies

Reform UK’s policies have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Their plans for deep spending cuts have been labeled unrealistic by independent analysts, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies warning that such savings would “almost certainly require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services”1. The party’s hardline stance on immigration and culture issues has also been described as divisive5.

Internally, the party’s lack of member influence and centralized control have raised questions about its democratic credentials1. Farage’s controversial statements, particularly on immigration and multiculturalism, have further polarized opinion4.

Conclusion

Reform UK represents a significant shift in the British political landscape. With its roots in Brexit, the party has evolved into a populist movement advocating radical change on immigration, public spending, and institutional reform. Led by Nigel Farage, it channels dissatisfaction with the status quo and appeals to voters seeking a break from traditional party politics. Whether Reform UK can sustain its momentum and translate popularity into lasting political power remains to be seen, but its rise signals a profound demand for change among a sizable portion of the British electorate489.