Grassroots anger tests Farage's grip on Reform UK

BBC ^ | March 22 | BBC

[RandFan]

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage put on a brave face this week, as he sought to put a blazing row with one of the party's now suspended MPs behind him.

The party is still neck-and-neck with Labour in the polls, and on Monday, it showed off 29 councillors who had recently defected to Reform UK.

While Farage acknowledged there had been "a little bit of turbulence", he stressed the upset was "very much at the edges".

But does the disquiet within the party go deeper than he suggested?

Divisions have become more acute in a party that now boasts more than 200,000 members and 400 local branches across the country.

Much of the anger is directed at Farage and Reform's chairman, Zia Yusuf, over their efforts to professionalise the party.

The party is being more ruthless in its vetting of candidates. It's also investigating - and in some cases expelling - members because of their activity on social media.

Farage is said to be desperate to avoid another election campaign where he faces constant questioning about the controversial comments of his candidates.

[Reverend Wright]

Farage is containment and gatekeeping.

Last year he campaigned on mass deportations. Now he says no deportations and that is the source of the dispute with Rupert Lowe.

Some of the Conservatives are now talking deportations. They have no credibility but they are now to the right of Farange who says he won’t do it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14478483/Reform-civil-war-deepens-Rupert-Lowe-accusing-Nigel-Farage-trying-silence-demand-mass-immigrant-deportations-MP-says-MILLION-kicked-out.html