I went to a Reform UK rally. This is what I learned.

By Zagham Farhan | Sun 14th July 2024 - 1:00 pm

Bored in Oxford, three weeks after the end of term and with everyone else having gone home, I decided to take an impulsive day trip to see the Reform UK rally in Birmingham on the last Sunday before election day. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting, as a committed Liberal Democrat and a son of immigrants, I was most certainly apprehensive. I was viewing it essentially as a learning experience, a chance to discover what had driven these people towards Nigel Farage’s newest political entity.

After an extremely pleasant National Express bus trip and getting slightly lost in the NEC- I found myself in a huge hall, which I later learnt houses around 5000 people. There was an unmistakeable buzz in the room. I got the feeling that the people there felt like they were witnessing something really important. I doubt many of them had been to a political event before, and they’d been uniquely drawn in by Reform. I saw lots of England football shirts, and even a couple of Make America Great Again hats. It was a notably old audience, it seemed like the vast majority were 50+ with an assortment of young men too. I saw very few young women, and very few people from ethnic minorities.

The event was extremely well run, with food and drink stalls, and they even managed to drive their election bus in somehow. The speaker line up consisted of Chief Exec Paul Oakden, Ann Widdecombe, major donor Zia Yusuf (I recommend that you watch this speech in particular), Richard Tice and of course Nigel Farage. When my friends realised where I was off to, I was surprised at the number of messages I got saying ‘stay safe.’ I had never considered that I might be at risk at this event, but apparently a number of my friends (all students) thought that I would be utterly unwelcome. I didn’t find that to be the case at all. Everyone was exceedingly polite, and while I didn’t make any effort to engage in any political conversation, I’m sure they would have been more than willing.

The speeches centred on a few central political themes- the Tories have failed, the state is too big, we should be patriotic, immigration is too high, there are only two genders. ‘Put British people first’ was uttered repeatedly. Each speaker got a rapturous reception from the audience.

I think they were translating anger into messaging in a way that other parties failed to do in this election. These are people who haven’t seen palpable economic growth in years, seen the culture of their cities changing, and their public services creaking. Reform have managed to direct that anger, to give them a sense that the ‘British’ people had been ignored, and that they present the answer.

I share very little politically with Reform UK. The way that they’ve continuously demonised immigrants has been a significant contributor to the horrible nature of our public discourse on the issue. Their attempts to erase trans people are deeply damaging. Some of their candidates demonstrated the very worst of what British politics has to offer. Their rhetoric is dangerous, and we need to ensure that we challenge it at every turn. I’m sure many of our nation’s bigots and racists showed up to vote for them on the 4th July; but I also think that many of their voters are just normal people, completely disillusioned with our politics.

I don’t share their beliefs, but I do share their anger. While mine gets directed into delivering leaflets with yellow bar charts on them and advocating a progressive cause; theirs has been directed to slogans like ‘Make Britain Great Again.’

Our country is broken, people’s wills are broken. I’m sure the majority in that room were not bad people. We need to be careful not to demonise everyone we disagree with – we need to try and understand them. The answers Nigel Farage peddles to very real problems seem simple (but usually misguided), and it’s our responsibility to challenge their validity with vigour, strength and importantly – compassion.

Nigel Farage entered to speak like a pop star; with dramatic music and pyrotechnics. The energy in that room was electric. I get it, I really do. Politics has failed these people (it’s failed us all really) and I suspect it will continue to fail them. I won’t be surprised if their poll numbers continue to grow, and a vocal Farage in Parliament will only help them. My trip taught me to listen a little more, and to pay a little more attention to the why behind people’s choices. I implore you all to do the same.

The responsibility now turns to us to take on their ideas, take on their politics. To advocate for moderate politics, by demonstrating its success. But we must not make the mistake of demonising their voters.

* Zagham Farhan is President of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats.