We need to talk about Reform UK

We need to talk about Reform UKThose of us who have been watching what is unfolding in the US for a while are not surprised. Why, because the same playbook is playing out here and has been since before the days of Brexit. If the flagshaggers have their way, Nigel Farage could well be the next Prime Minister of the UK, but his party is based on lies and right-wing subterfuge. It's smoke and mirrors and the frog-faced Fuhrage is a morality free snake oil salesman just like Trump.  The Reform Party UK presents itself as a “party for the people,” but in reality, it’s a plaything of the rich, deeply connected to corporate interests, far-right movements, and even Russian influence. While it claims to be "anti-establishment," it is actually backed by the same elites it pretends to fight.  Of course the Gammon don't care - they don't like brown people and that's good enough for them.

If you’re thinking about voting for Reform, take a moment to see what they really stand for, because it’s really not in your best interest.   Turkeys voting early for Christmas springs to mind. At the head of Reform UK is Richard Tice, a multi-millionaire property developer and former Brexit Party chairman. He loves to pose as a man of the people, but he’s got more in common with hedge fund managers than with ordinary workers. His background? Making money from property speculation while supporting policies that make housing unaffordable for the average person. Then there’s Nigel Farage, the true puppet master of Reform UK. Farage has spent decades cosying up to right-wing billionaires, pushing anti-immigration rhetoric, and acting as Britain’s version of Donald Trump. He has deep connections to figures like Donald Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon, a key architect of far-right movements worldwide, and Russian state-backed media outlets that amplified his Brexit campaign. Farage and Tice claim to be for the working class, but let’s be real, the fuckers wouldn’t last a day in a normal job. Reform UK has a long list of scandals and shady connections: 

1. Ties to Russia – Don't ever think these wankers are patriots. Nigel Farage has long been suspected of having ties to the Kremlin. Russian state media outlets like RT (Russia Today) have given him endless airtime, and leaked reports suggest Russian money helped boost pro-Brexit campaigns, something Farage was at the centre of.
2. Dark Money & Tufton Street – The party is heavily linked to the extremist hub in Tufton Street, the notorious hub of right-wing think tanks that push for extreme free-market policies (i.e., cutting taxes for the rich and slashing public services). Groups like the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Taxpayers’ Alliance, which refuse to disclose their donors, have backed Reform’s ideas. These organisations have a history of taking money from US oil billionaires, hedge funds, and other vested interests that want to dismantle the welfare state.
3. Bankrolled by the Ultra-Rich – Reform UK claims to be a grassroots movement, but the truth is, it’s funded by a handful of wealthy donors. Richard Tice himself is worth millions, and past backers of Farage’s campaigns include Arron Banks, a businessman with alleged Russian ties. Reform UK has received donations from offshore companies and individuals who want tax cuts for the rich, not policies that help workers.

Reform loves to talk about “cutting immigration” and “taking back control,” but what does it actually plan to do? Here’s a breakdown of their key policies: 

1. US-Style Private Healthcare – Reform wants to introduce a privatised insurance-based system for the NHS. That means instead of free healthcare, you’d have to pay for private insurance, just like in the US. If you can’t afford it? Tough luck. You’ll end up waiting longer or not getting treatment at all.
2. Tax Cuts for the Wealthy – They want massive tax cuts for corporations and the rich, meaning less money for hospitals, schools, and public services. Meanwhile, working-class people will be left with fewer protections and rising costs.
3. Attacks on Workers’ Rights – Reform UK wants to weaken unions and employment protections, making it easier for bosses to fire workers and harder for employees to fight for better pay and conditions.
4. Climate Denial & Fossil Fuel Backers – The party has opposed net-zero policies and wants to roll back climate commitments. Why? Because some of their backers are linked to the fossil fuel industry. Their solution to the energy crisis? Drill more oil and gas—ignoring the reality of climate change.
5. More Money for Private Schools & Businesses – They want to expand privatised education, meaning fewer resources for state schools and more advantages for the wealthy elite.

Reform isn’t just bad news for Britain—it’s part of a wider international far-right movement. 

• Connected to Trump & US Conservatives – Farage is best friends with Donald Trump and has spoken at CPAC, the US’s biggest far-right political event. Reform UK aligns with Republican policies—privatising healthcare, weakening worker protections, and making life harder for immigrants.
• Allies in the European Far Right – They share ideology with parties like France’s National Rally (Marine Le Pen) and Italy’s Brothers of Italy (Giorgia Meloni)—both of which have links to neo-fascist movements. These parties push nationalism, attack minority groups, and promote policies that only benefit the rich.
• Pro-Putin Elements – While they claim to be patriotic, Reform UK figures have repeatedly refused to fully condemn Russia. Farage infamously said he “admired” Vladimir Putin back in 2014 and has been soft on Russia ever since.

Reform is not anti-Establishment. It pretends to be against the system, but look at who they really serve: 

• Big corporations and billionaires who want tax cuts and deregulation.
• Right-wing media moguls who push their message (hello, GB News and The Daily Mail and Lee fucking Anderson).
• Hard-right think tanks that don’t disclose where their money comes from.

Be under no illusions, their policies will hurt working-class people while making the rich even richer. That’s not anti-establishment, it’s the establishment in disguise. As of March 2025, Reform UK has five sitting Members of Parliament (MPs): Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, Richard Tice, Rupert Lowe, and James Murdock. Each of these MPs has a background rooted in right-wing politics and business interests, often aligning with policies that favour the wealthy and undermine public services. 

• Nigel Farage (MP for Clacton): Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has a long history of promoting nationalist and anti-immigration policies. His political career, marked by his tenure as the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), has been characterised by divisive rhetoric that often scapegoats’ immigrants and minorities. Farage's alignment with far-right figures globally raises concerns about his commitment to inclusive and equitable policies.
• Lee Anderson (MP for Ashfield): Anderson's political journey has been marked by controversy and shifting allegiances. Originally a Labour councillor, he defected to the Conservative Party in 2018 and later to Reform UK in 2024 after having the Conservative whip suspended. His tenure has been marred by inflammatory statements, including allegations of Islamophobic comments, reflecting a pattern of behaviour that undermines social cohesion and promotes division.
• Richard Tice (MP for Boston and Skegness): Tice, a multimillionaire property developer, has leveraged his wealth to influence political discourse in favour of deregulation and policies that benefit the affluent. His leadership in pro-Brexit campaigns and tenure as chairman of Reform UK highlight his commitment to an agenda that often disregards the needs of working-class communities. Tice's business interests raise questions about potential conflicts between his political role and personal financial gains.
• Rupert Lowe (Great Yarmouth): Lowe's background as a businessman and former chairman of Southampton Football Club aligns with Reform UK's trend of selecting candidates with significant wealth and corporate ties. His political stance often reflects a preference for policies that favour the elite, including tax cuts for the wealthy and reductions in public spending, which could exacerbate social inequality and undermine public services.
• James Murdock (MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock): Murdock’s unexpected victory in the 2024 general election underscores the volatility of contemporary politics. His alignment with Reform UK suggests support for the party's agenda, which includes privatisation efforts and a shift towards a U.S.-style healthcare system. Such policies threaten to erode the foundations of the National Health Service (NHS) and compromise access to essential healthcare services for ordinary citizens. Collectively, these MPs embody Reform UK's commitment to a neoliberal agenda that prioritises corporate interests and the wealthy elite over the needs of the broader population. Their policies risk undermining public services, exacerbating social inequalities, and fostering division within society.

It's also worth looking at their schooling:  with the exception of Lee Anderthal they all went to private schools Tice (Wellington College) Farage (Dulwich College) Lowe (Eton) and McMurdock (Royal Grammar School).  Lee went, it appears barely, to Manton Secondary School - now defunct so no blue plaque or alumni award for you Lee eh?  This education profile reinforces the perception that Reform UK, despite its populist rhetoric, is largely a party for the privileged few. With most of its MPs coming from elite schools and universities, their policies—focused on deregulation, tax cuts for the rich, and privatisation, serve the interests of the wealthy elite rather than working-class people. Their educational backgrounds show a direct link to the class they represent, not the people they claim to advocate for.  Lee is there becasue every Furher needs its Ernst Rohm.

And if you can't bare to believe what's if front of your eyes, Reform parliamentary voting record reflects its policy positions on various key issues: 

Workers' Rights: Reform UK MPs have consistently opposed legislation aimed at enhancing workers' rights. Notably, they voted against the Workers' Rights Bill, which proposed measures such as banning zero-hours contracts and ensuring sick pay from the first day of employment. This stance aligns with their broader agenda of reducing regulatory constraints on businesses. 

Welfare and Pensions: The party has advocated for reducing welfare spending and raising the state pension age, arguing that such measures are necessary for fiscal responsibility. Their voting record reflects this position, as they have supported policies aimed at cutting welfare benefits and increasing the pension age. These actions have raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable populations who rely on these social safety nets. 

Health: Reform UK MPs have expressed support for introducing private sector involvement in the National Health Service (NHS), suggesting that competition could improve efficiency. Their voting behaviour includes support for policies that promote privatization within the NHS, which critics argue could undermine the principle of universal healthcare. 

Defence: The party has advocated for increased defence spending and a more robust military presence globally. Their voting record indicates support for expanding the defence budget and modernizing the armed forces, reflecting their commitment to strengthening national security. Overall, Reform UK's voting behaviour underscores a commitment to free-market principles, reduced government intervention in social welfare, and a focus on national sovereignty and defence.

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Russia's connection to Farage and the far-right is well documented.  It makes me wonder whether Claudia Winkleman will have him on the next series of Celebrity Traitor.  This man is not a patriot.  Thanks to Hugh Dellar, who has been posting articles every day of the war describing the life of ordinary people in a war torn Ukraine.  

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Let’s be blunt here: voting for Reform UK is self-harm. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Reform likes to present itself as an anti-establishment party, but there’s one big problem with that claim: it’s not even a proper political party in the traditional sense, it’s a private limited company. Reform UK is officially registered as Reform UK Party Limited, meaning it operates more like a business than a democratic political movement. 

So why does that matter? well unlike actual political parties, which are accountable to their members through democratic structures, Reform UK is effectively controlled from the top down. The people at the top, like Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, call the shots without the usual internal party democracy seen in Labour, the Conservatives, or even the Liberal Democrats. Members don’t get a say in policy, leadership elections, or the overall direction of the party. They’re just along for the ride while the leadership makes all the real decisions. Being a private company also makes it easier to hide financial dealings. Unlike political parties, which have strict regulations about donations and internal funding, Reform UK’s setup allows it to operate with far less scrutiny. This means wealthy backers, often from big business and shadowy lobbying networks—can pump money into Reform UK while the public remains largely in the dark about where the cash is coming from. Reform UK has received significant funding from donors linked to Tufton Street, the network of right-wing think tanks that push for deregulation, tax cuts for the rich, and privatisation of public services. This means that rather than being a party for the "ordinary voter," as Farage and Tice claim, Reform UK is really a mouthpiece for corporate interests and the ultra-rich. Farage and his allies like to pretend they’re standing up for the "little guy" against the political elite. But how can a party that is literally structured like a business, funded by millionaires, and pushing policies that benefit the wealthy seriously claim to be anti-establishment? Their policies, like cutting workers' rights, slashing welfare, and moving towards a privatised, U.S. style healthcare system are straight out of the neoliberal playbook. This isn’t about taking on the establishment; it’s about shifting power even further towards corporate interests while misleading voters into thinking Reform UK is on their side. It's not difficult to see their appeal. They are populist and designed at source to work to the lowest common denominator. 

Let’s be blunt here: voting for Reform UK is self-harm. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Reform have realised that when Labour and the conservatives are effectively different versions of the same centrist bullshit that they can say, vote for us, we're different. And of course, people have. People voted for Brexit because Reform's predecessor, UKIP convinced them that the cause and effect of privatisations, dendustrialisation and the gap between rich and poor were the fault of the EU when in fact they were the effect of consecutive UK Governments since 1976. They bank on taking the vote from people who would not normally vote and never read manifestos, pushing narratives that are at best misleading - just as MAGA supporters are beginning to find to their cost in the US. Their immigration stance appeals to the underlying low-level racism and loss of empire that is felt in the middle-aged working class, something that the Labour Party has never addressed in a grown-up way.  In fact Labour at the moment are playing right into their hands.  Instead of tackling the root and branch issues that create appeal for the thier policies, they are appeasing them and moving further to right with their themselves in the hope of stealing votes.  Well Sir Kier - this never works.  You just embolden them and become midwives to a potential far-right takeover of Britain.   Did you learn nothing from Brexit?

This their strength but it's also their Achilles heel. Their power base is middle aged and so they know the only way they can gain power is to do it now while there are still people here who'll vote for them. But everyone considering voting for them needs to think very carefully if they can afford a Reform Government. Because if you are middle aged the chances are you are heading towards your pension, you may not be in the best of health, you may be struggling to carry on working and if you are doing the best for your grandkids and want a better world for them then you won't find this at Reform. Both main parties have failed to address the fears that Reform is built on: 

• If you’re working-class, they’ll make your life harder.
• If you rely on the NHS, they’ll make you pay for healthcare.
• If you’re a worker, they’ll make it easier to fire you and harder to get a pay rise.
• If you care about the planet, they’ll ignore climate change and push for more pollution.

So, if you’re struggling with the cost of living, relying on the NHS, or worried about job security, voting for Reform UK is like handing the fox the keys to the henhouse. Their policies will strip away protections for workers, defund public services, and leave ordinary people worse off while the rich get richer. Reform UK isn’t a movement, it’s a brand, designed to sell right-wing policies under the illusion of rebellion. But scratch beneath the surface, and it’s clear: they’re just another elite-run operation, exploiting working-class anger for their own gain. The problem is the exact people who need to hear this are the precise people who won't listen. Their mind is melted by The Sun, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail and GBeebies.  All media outlets run by billionaires and with a vested interest in inequality.

Reform UK is not the solution to Britain’s problems. It’s a party that exists to serve the rich, weaken public services, and stir up culture wars to distract from real issues. Britain deserves better. Don't fall for their con.

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UPDATE 7th MARCH

Oh I so wish I'd waiting a couple of days before writing this. It seems Wupert is a bit of a twat to his staff, isn't that fond of having an Asian Chair in the Party.  It comes to something when Lee Anderthal has to step in and say 'howay fella, that's a bit strong'.

Another reason why Eton School should be closed.  It keeps producing sociopaths like a conveyor belt of cunts that think they have the God given right to rule and that they are in some way superior.

^{Courtesy of Gene Roberston.}

Oh dear Wupert...

I'd like to think this was the beginning of the end for these fuckers but unfortunately they are like Herpes, you get rid of it and then it comes back when you least want it to.

.... Just like the far right