Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party has been facing a dilemma in recent days over how to respond to the intimidating uniform-clad groups of young men who descended on both Dover and Portsmouth in the early days of September.
Nigel Farage condemned the behaviour of the balaclava-clad young men who disrupted life in both south coast towns. However, it was later reported that only a few days on from the demonstrations by the black-clad members of Patriot Platform, Reform was “gripped with internal friction over the activists. There has been unease among some members and councillors about Farage’s criticism and some outright praise for the group as ‘patriots’”.
Gateshead councillors linked to far-right group
Then it was reported on 16 September that five Reform councillors – including two from Gateshead – had been members of the North East Patriots Facebook group. Two were said to have left after they were approached by the Guardian, while a fifth also said he was now not a member.
It was further reported that “the group’s front page invites those visiting to “join the movement” at the website address for Patriot Platform, the vigilante group set up by Daniel Thomas, a long-term associate of the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson”.
Tyneside Reform activist Mark Thorn set up the North East Patriots group. It describes him as “Reform UK Representative/Campaigner Gateshead Central & Whickham Constituency”.
Hope Not Hate, who campaign against fascism, identified four councillors who had been members of the closed group. It was further noted that “in a welcome message for new members, they were tagged by their handle, which would not be possible if they were not members as it is a closed group”.
Of the 14 other Reform councillors invited to join the group, one of them was, the Gateshead councillor James Wright.
Wright told the Guardian that he no longer followed it. He commented: “I joined the North East Patriots Facebook group in the same way I follow and monitor a wide range of local groups, community pages and political discussions.”
“Membership of a social media group should not be taken as endorsement of every view expressed by other members, administrators or organisations referenced within it.
“I do not endorse any unlawful activity, disorder, intimidation or violence. My focus as a councillor is on representing residents and understanding issues that are being discussed locally.”
Comment from Hope not Hate
Senior researcher at Hope Not Hate, Gregory Davis commented: “From initially condemning Patriot Platform’s balaclava gang in Dover, with Farage calling it ‘disgusting’, ‘wrong’ and ‘horrible’, Reform’s messaging on the group has since become somewhat more confusing.
“The link we have uncovered is very worrying. Patriot Platform is a far-right vigilante group who has now been involved in several clashes with police, resulting in multiple arrests and more expected to come.”
A dangerous connection
This connection between Reform UK in the North East and the far-right group Patriotic Platform, behind the intimidating behaviour in Dover and Portsmouth is a worrying development.
It has been noted that while Patriotic Platform claims that it is dedicated to upholding Christian values and protecting British women and girls, it is in reality home to a large number of violent criminals.
We all know how 90 years ago a civilised and developed European country allowed politicians backed by uniform-clad street thugs to come to power and we all know how that turned out.
We do not want any kind of repeat of that here in Britain today.
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