Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has hardened his anti-immigration stance in the build up to the Makerfield byelection, and has promised that he would he would ban foreign nationals from social housing, as well as then deporting them if they cannot find private sector accommodation. The election in Makerfield is quickly becoming a national focus rather than a local one, with much of the right-wing seeing Labour’s candidate Andy Burnham as Kier Starmer’s potential successor, and a chance for Labour to stabilise amid rapidly falling popularity.
The Reform leader published a nearly 7,000 word essay to a new substack, in which he called for the people of Makerfield to back restore, and insisted that “anti-whiteness is institutionalised into every aspect of public life”. Labour are currently leading marginally in Makerfield, considered to be largely due to the split vote between Reform UK and Restore, a party led by Rupert Lowe that brandishes even more extreme views on gender, race and immigration.
In the essay, Farage doubled down on Reform’s promise to ban the equality act, and said Reform will cap the recruitment of foreign doctors. He also said he would ban foreign nationals from welfare, including social housing, and that after a three month period, any that could not relocate to the private sector would lose their right to remain. The policy would be especially cut-throat given the harsh realities of finding a home in the private sector, and the current intersection between the cost-of-living and housing crisis. The essay continued Farage’s previous rhetoric that equality and diversity inclusions have grown to victimise white people at large, and said: “Thanks to the mass migration policies of Conservative and Labour governments, white Brits will become a minority in this country before the end of the century.”
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This rhetoric is not new from Reform. Last year, Reform’s head of policy claimed that the majority of social homes in London were taken up by foreign nationals, a claim that was heavily disputed. Last year, a report from Herriott-Watt University delved into racism in the UK housing sector, finding that BAME families are disproprtionally affected by homelessness and housing instability, as well as facing considerable barriers and discrimination when it comes to finding support, findings that directly contradict Farage’s claims in relation to social housing and immigration.
Farage’s party has also been heavily critical of environmental initiatives such as net-zero, with numerous Reform council’s already taking measures to minimise or overall scrap environmental policies. All of these factors make up Reform’s general “anti-woke” philosophy, championing a harsh opposition to social and environmental policies.
Reform UK enjoyed a landslide victory in the local elections earlier this year, although victories in many councils have been marred by resignations as offensive tweets and views of councillors were brought to light. Reform have largely taken over control of the right vote from the Conservatives, and are seen as the main opposition to the current Labour government.
Shelter’s chief executive, Sarah Elliott, was heavily critical of the plan. “These divisive plans risk kicking thousands of our friends, neighbours and colleagues out of their homes and the communities they are part of, without justification,” she said. “This would lead to increasing homelessness, put extreme pressure on councils and rip apart the fabric of our country for no reason.”
Farage’s plans to ban foregin nationals come against a heavily volatile backdrop in the UK. Division is on the rise in UK communities, and racially motivated demonstrations and riots are becoming more and more common. Riots in Belfast that saw BAME families targeted and their houses burned over the past week are the latest example. Housing Executive: Future Foundations will be hosting a panel talk specifically discussing what providers can do to encourage cohesion within their communities, and how they can support BAME residents who may have been affected by the current climate.
