Reform UK and the "Far Right"

 

It came as a surprise to learn that the BBC had apologised for referring to the Reform UK party, led by Richard Tice, seen above, as being "far right". It was even more of a surprise to learn that this "far right" description was only mentioned in passing, in a report about the LibDems' Spring conference. As The Guardian says: 

"The apology related to coverage of the Liberal Democrats’ spring conference by the broadcaster, which said it had removed a sentence from an article that did not adhere to its editorial standards".

The right-wing Express, in a nauseatingly gloating article, said; 

"The article, published without a byline, reported: “It has been suggested by some polls that far-Right Reform UK has overtaken the Lib Dems in terms of popularity."

The main reason why the Reform Party demanded an apology was expressed thus by Tice, again quoted in The Guardian:

"Tice said the label of being “far right” would have “huge implications”, if other media outlets used it and suggested that he and others could lose their bank accounts or the ability to get a mortgage. He said his lawyers had also been in touch with other organisations".

Of itself. this is an interesting statement. Tice offers no evidence that any right-wing extremists have ever suffered financial consequences because of their views. The only right-wing "personality" I have ever known to have problems with his bank account is Nigel Farage, honorary president of the Reform Party, who must be delighted at having seen the BBC forced into eating humble pie yet again. The BBC had to apologise to Farage last year for wrongfully reporting why Coutts Bank had closed his account.  Lee Anderson, the ex-Labour councillor, ex-Tory and now Reform MP is even more pleased. As the Express says:

"Lee Anderson says the incident proves that the BBC is seen as anti-Britain and proves the licence fee must be scrapped".

 A two-word epithet in a single sentence is thus hyped up into an exaggerated issue, based upon a complete absence of evidence and weaponised into an attack on the integrity and independence of the BBC. We have been warned. Tice, Farage and 30p Lee will use this incident as a stick to beat the BBC in the forthcoming general election.

But Tice's statement is interesting in another way. He is concerned about the financial implications of being branded "far right", but appears to have no worries about any similarities of Reform UK policies to far right/ neo-Nazi policies. The neo-Nazis want net zero immigration; so do the Reform Party. Reform UK haven't yet called for repatriation of ethnic minorities officially, but...

  ...while the party itself might not advocate repatriation, some Reform UK members, like the neo-Nazis, certainly do. As The Mirror reported yesterday:

"Reform UK has ditched an election candidate after claims emerged he fantasised about deporting “millions” of British citizens to “rid itself of the foreign plague we have been diseased with. Benjamin “Beau” Dade was sacked as Reform UK’s candidate for Swindon South after campaign group HOPE not hate revealed he published an extreme “policy roadmap” for The Mallard website, which the campaign group described as "a little-read far-right outlet". The publication, which was published online in late 2022, called for “millions of foreigners and their dependents” to be expelled from the country".

Mr Dade also wants to purge the Civil Service and ban a number of organisations he detests, such as Hope not Hate and The Guardian. The neo-Nazi groups would surely give him a warm welcome. Please note: Reform UK only ditched this man after Hope not Hate exposed his antics. They seem to have not noticed them previously - and has he been expelled from the party? Hope not Hate has said: 

 

“It is right that Reform UK have dropped Benjamin Dade as their candidate. However, if Reform UK wants to avoid being labelled as far right, they should perhaps work harder at keeping the likes of Dade from their list of candidates".

I think it highly unlikely that Dade is an isolated case. I have no doubt that there are many more like him in Reform UK, UKIP, English Democrats and the Reclaim Party. All these groups, while seeking to avoid being branded "far right", understand very well how important it is for them to appeal to the racist voter. As Reform UK is gathering support from disaffected Tory voters, it is important that they are challenged vigorously about their views during the coming election campaign.