Nigel Farage’s condemnation of the masked men, whose blockade of Dover hit the headlines on the final day of his party’s annual conference, was swift, calling their actions “horrible”.
However, less than a week after the public debut of the black-clad members of the Patriot Platform, Reform is plagued by internal tensions over activists. Some members and councilors expressed dismay at Farage’s criticism, and some openly praised the group as “patriots”.
Reform is facing questions about apparent links to nationalist movements just after Ryan Bridge, co-founder of anti-immigrant group Raise the Colors, was given a prominent platform at the Reform conference, where Farage pledged to “legally support” him.
Bridge, who was released on bail and charged this week with 14 offenses including racial harassment, worked closely with Patriot Platform leader Daniel Thomas. Bridge said he has nothing to do with the Patriot Platform.
The most dramatic public example of disagreement over the Patriot reform platform played out publicly in Portsmouth on Monday after police clashed with balaclava-clad activists.
Thomas interrupted a visit by the party’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, to tell him that events had been misrepresented. “I take your word for it,” Yusuf told him. Yusuf later recalled that Thomas – a convicted criminal and longtime associate of the activist who calls himself Tommy Robinson – made his point “respectfully” and challenged Kemi Badenoch’s condemnation of the group. “How dare you call them ‘thugs,’” Yusuf told the Tory leader on X.
Yusuf and other senior reform figures, including Richard Tice, Robert Jenrick and the leader of the party’s flagship county council Kent, criticized the use of face coverings by the new far-right group. But often at the same time there is tacit support for their goals.
“How about your government stopped the boats instead? Then people wouldn’t feel the need to protest against the invasion of the country… it’s just a thought,” said Kent council leader Linden Kemkaran, whose council includes Dover.
Elsewhere, however – as anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate points out – others are willing to go further.
“These patriots in Portsmouth have done more to stop the invasion than the last seven governments combined,” said Dudley councilor Andrew Southall, while Portsmouth councilor Emily Strudwick spoke of the “huge sense of community” at the protest she attended.
There is also, unusually, evidence of open dissent in Reform towards Farage himself.
“We know there are strong feelings circulating today about Nigel’s comments regarding the Dover protest. We want to address this issue as a group,” Tameside councilor Sharon Barker wrote on Facebook.
“Many of those marching were brave, passionate patriots who had very real reasons for covering their faces, including the very real fear of losing their jobs simply because they were defending Britain.”
Her group leader Allan Hopwood told the Guardian the topic was “particularly emotional”, insisting the focus was on democratic politics. A factor in Tameside is that local reform is at the forefront of the threat posed by Rupert Lowe’s right-wing rival Restore Britain.
But on the issue of face coverings worn by activists, Hopwood said: “These are people who clearly have a patriotic agenda and are concerned about the women and children of this country, but they are also acutely aware that there will be media outlets that will want to promote things. They will have jobs that they want to protect, and unfortunately we are in a position where people don’t want to reveal their identity.”
During the reform conference, Farage told Bridge of Raise the Colors that its campaign, which saw flags flown around England in circumstances many people found frightening, was “phenomenal” and he would take the group’s offer of a partnership with reform-led councils to the party’s lawyers, an exchange that was shared widely on social media.
Bridge told the Guardian on Thursday that there had been strong interest in his proposal from reform advisers and the party was reviewing the plans. “Particular councils are recognizing what we’re trying to roll out and offer. It’s very, very positive from Clacton to Norfolk to Wales. I spoke to councilors in Burnley last night, it’s literally the whole country,” he said.
“It felt like we were in a comfortable and safe environment of like-minded people, British patriots and people who wanted the best for the country,” he said.
Praise for the Patriot Platform among some in Reform and links to Raise the Colors comes at a dangerous moment for Farage as he tries to push Reform’s stabilizing poll numbers by luring undecided Tory voters.
Although he likes to claim the man who destroyed the British National Party when it competed with the British Independence Party a decade ago, Reform faces acute electoral danger of losing voters in its bid to rebuild Britain.
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.