At least five councillors from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have been members of a Facebook group connected to the far‑right Patriot Platform, anti‑fascist campaigners said on Monday. The councillors reported to be members represent areas including Solihull, Gateshead and Kent.
Patriot Platform has been linked to on‑the‑ground actions by balaclava‑clad activists, including blockades in Dover and Portsmouth, incidents that drew widespread condemnation. Farage and figures across the political spectrum have denounced the group’s activities, according to reports.
The findings come amid ongoing tensions within Reform UK, which has been wrestling with internal divisions over how to respond to the Patriot Platform and its supporters. The episode is likely to intensify scrutiny of the party’s local representatives and its processes for vetting or disciplining members.
Anti‑fascist campaigners who publicised the councillors’ membership said their disclosures aim to highlight links between elected representatives and extremist online networks. The revelations add to a broader debate in British politics about the boundaries between mainstream political parties and fringe movements.