In its new policy platform, the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, pledged to protect free speech, prohibit “transgender ideology” in schools, and scrap diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The Brexit Party was founded in 2018 and rebranded as the Reform UK party in in 2021. It has steadily gained support since then, capturing 16 percent of voters in a recent poll taken ahead of the upcoming July 4 election, compared to 21 percent for the Conservative Party and 41 percent for the Labour Party.
“Multiculturalism has imported separate communities that reject our way of life,” reads the opening statement of the party’s manifesto, which it calls “our contract with you.” “Divisive, ‘woke’ ideology has captured our public institutions. Transgender indoctrination is causing irreversible harm to children.”
The document pledges to “ban transgender ideology in primary and secondary schools,” which is described as a “critical reform” needed in the first 100 days of the administration.
“No gender questioning, social transitioning or pronoun swapping. Inform parents of under 16s about their children’s life decisions. Schools must have single sex facilities,” reads the 25-page document. Additionally, Reform UK says history and social-science curricula will be reviewed, and “any teaching about a period or example of British or European imperialism or slavery must be paired with the teaching of a non-European occurrence of the same to ensure balance.”
Reform UK intends to propose a comprehensive free-speech bill, reform the “institutionally biased” BBC, and further cut funding for “universities that undermine free speech,” stating that “allowing political bias or cancel culture must face heavy financial penalties.”
“Legislate to stop left-wing bias and politically correct ideology that threatens personal freedom and democracy. No more de-banking, cancel culture, left wing hate mobs or political bias in public institutions,” reads the document. “Stop Sharia law being used in the UK.”
Reform UK pledges to review the Online Safety Bill, stating that “Social media giants that push baseless transgender ideology and divisive Critical Race theory should have no role in regulating free speech.” Reform UK also aims to launch an inquiry into the harms of social media, noting that it is associated with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, suicide and the child mental health crisis.
The manifesto criticizes “woke policing” and pledges to “scrap all Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DE&I) roles and regulations to stop two-tier policing.” The party further aims to increase the police force, build more than 10,000 new detention sites, enforce mandatory life sentences for serious or repeat violent offenses, impose life imprisonment for drug dealing, and make child grooming an aggravating offense.
Reform UK document states the plan to “reaffirm British sovereignty” includes canceling its membership in the World Health Organization unless it reforms its structure and funding, rejecting the World Economic forum, leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, and repealing regulations retained from its European Union membership. The party wants to replace the 2010 Equalities Act and further “scrap” the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that “have lowered standards and reduced economic productivity.” Additionally, Reform UK wants to remove a wide range of “Net Zero” environmental policies and instead support nuclear energy projects.
Reform UK said it will freeze non-essential immigration, deport foreign criminals immediately after they finish their prison sentences, introduce visa restrictions for international students that would bar dependents, and impose a requirement of five years residency and employment to claim any benefits.
“Zero illegal immigrants to be resettled in the UK,” reads the document. “Pick up illegal migrants out of boats and take them back to France.”