In a revealing turn of events, two prominent far-right figures, David Clews and Mark Collett, have articulated a strategy to infiltrate and manipulate the Reform UK party, seeking to steer it towards extremist ideologies. Clews, known for his conspiracy theories and as a far-right influencer, along with Collett, a self-identified Nazi sympathizer and founder of the nationalist group Patriotic Alternative (PA), have called on their supporters to embed themselves within Nigel Farage’s party. Their agenda is overtly focused on promoting anti-immigration policies aligned with a “pro-white” narrative, sparking significant concern within political circles.
In a recent online broadcast, Clews made startling claims, alleging that sympathizers were already embedded within Reform UK. He suggested that individuals tied to far-right groups were already serving as “branch chairs” and featured on candidate lists without providing any substantiated evidence. In response, a spokesperson for Reform UK firmly rejected the notion that far-right ideologies could find a foothold within their party, asserting that a comprehensive “stringent vetting process” was actively enforced to prevent such infiltration. According to the spokesperson, such extremist views would never be welcome in their political realm and a clear threshold existed for party membership.
However, Clews countered by arguing that the covert nature of their infiltration would make detection by Reform UK nearly impossible. He emphasized that those who have aligned with their agenda possess minimal public ties to their far-right affiliations, leveraging knowledge from alternative media outlets to navigate the political landscape discretely. He illustrated a landscape where individuals can remain anonymous on social media while simultaneously being active members of Reform, thus crafting an environment ripe for the propagation of their extremist views.
The partnership between Clews and Collett, who both have historical ties to the British National Party (BNP), has culminated in a “declaration of intent” aimed at pulling Reform UK’s platform radically to the right. Their proclamation encourages followers to seek prominent political roles – ranging from MPs to local councillors – under the Reform banner, promising them necessary support and organization to realize their political ambitions. Their strategy further entails collaborating with lesser-known anti-immigration factions to consolidate power toward achieving their objectives.
A worrisome aspect of this unfolding narrative is the established background of many individuals within their organization, with some PA members having been convicted of serious offenses tied to terrorism and racial hatred. An undercover investigation conducted by the BBC recently shed light on instances where members of PA not only discussed but also condoned violence against specific groups, notably migrants.
Moreover, Clews and Collett have detailed a specific set of goals aimed at Reform UK’s platform, specifically advocating for a drastic reduction in immigration to ensure that the “indigenous people” of the British Isles maintain a demographic majority. Their recent statements reveal a clear strategy designed to push the boundaries of acceptable political discourse while leveraging public sentiments around immigration.
The ramifications of this strategy pose a significant challenge for Reform UK, primarily centered around its existing vetting processes, which have previously been scrutinized for allowing candidates with extremist views to emerge. In light of prior BBC reports, there have been identified cases wherein local election candidates affiliated with Reform showcased extremist ideologies that contradicted the party’s ethos.
Joe Mulhall from the anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate noted the pertinence of the infiltration strategy, suggesting that while it is feasible to detect members attempting to hide their far-right beliefs, issues surrounding Reform’s competence in vetting new members would likely allow some to remain undetected.
Clews has drawn comparisons between their infiltration efforts and Momentum’s influence within the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, reflecting a desire for indirect control over the party’s future trajectory. Collett has gone on record stating that while he does not endorse Farage, his objective is to dismantle traditional two-party politics, propelling discussions towards an extremist “pro-white” direction.
Overall, the situation escalates the complexity of political dialogues within the UK, particularly regarding the boundaries of what constitutes acceptable rhetoric and policy discourse. With these alarming developments, the political landscape remains on high alert as the ramifications of such extremist attempts to exploit mainstream parties threaten the very fabric of democratic engagement.