When Nigel Farage announced his intention to make a comeback to mainstream politics, few would have taken the eccentric, no-filter leader of Reform UK seriously. But one year on, things seem to be taking a turn.
Asian Voice previously reported that Reform UK is finding unexpected traction among one of Britain’s most influential and traditionally Labour-leaning communities: British Indians. Polling by the 1928 Institute, an Oxford-based think tank studying the British Indian community, reveals that support for Reform UK has tripled in just a year, rising from 4% to 13%.
Now, as the think tank takes its research ‘Identity, Representation & Policy Priorities’ to 10 Downing Street to share early insights, the question looms: who is to be blamed for the rise of a hard-right leader with racist views, whose political ideas draw inspiration from America’s Donald Trump?
To answer this, the two main political parties of the country need to figure out where they are going wrong, and this report will help them get to the pulse of one of the most important communities they need to regain traction in.
Policy priorities driving support
Today, the British Indians are an integral part of the country’s rhythm and are well integrated. They need their representation to reflect their actual issues over identity and rhetoric. For many British Indians, crime ranks as a top priority. In areas where law and order and economic pressures dominate, Reform UK has positioned itself as a party that can ‘get things done’ efficiently, and that message holds strong appeal.
The ‘Identity, Representation & Policy Priorities’ report reveals a worrying surge in support for Reform UK, signalling a shift that political observers should take seriously. While Labour continues to dominate across gender and age groups, Reform is gaining traction among older voters and the Working-Middle Class, particularly those aged 76–86+.
Gender patterns show men are more likely to back Reform than women, and the party’s support among the eldest voters mirrors its appeal to traditional Conservative demographics. Meanwhile, Labour and the Green Party maintain strong support among younger and female voters, but Reform’s growth in older and more socially conservative segments suggests it could increasingly challenge established party loyalties.
Socio-economic data amplifies the concern: nearly two in five Reform supporters identify as working-middle class, a higher proportion than any other party. With the Green Party capturing working class support and Labour expanding across classes, Reform’s rise could reshape political dynamics, particularly among older voters.
Dr Nikita Ved MBE, Executive Co-Chair of The 1928 Institute, previously discussing the report with Asian Voice, said, “When we asked the community about their top five policy priorities, they identified education, the economy, crime, health, and domestic poverty, which includes the cost of living crisis. Notably, concern about crime as a policy issue has risen sharply since 2020, and parties that address these issues are gaining significant traction in these areas.”
The politics of money
Amidst increased support from the public, Reform UK has also surged ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives after receiving a record-breaking £9mn donation from businessman Christopher Harborne, the largest gift to a UK political party from a living donor. The contribution, made in August, helped push the party’s total third-quarter donations to £10.3mn, compared with £4.5mn for the Conservatives and £1.9mn for Labour, Electoral Commission figures show.
The injection of funds marks a turning point for Reform, which has led national polls since April but previously struggled to attract large-scale donor support. This also leads to the rhetoric that Reform UK is the best option for voters ad donors.
Additionally, a millionaire Conservative donor, Lord Malcolm Offord, elevated to the House of Lords by Boris Johnson has dramatically defected to Reform UK, delivering a significant political win for Nigel Farage. He isn’t an exception, but joins a growing tide of defections from Conservatives towards Reform. More than 20 Conservatives, including sitting MPs, a House of Lords peer, and dozens of local councillors, have defected to Reform UK in the past two years.
Awake-up call
It is clear that both the Labour Party and the Conservatives need to self-reflect because the loss of trust isn’t just among voters but also within their ranks. There is also the need to move beyond tokenism with ethnic minority communities. Both parties have focus groups like Conservative Friends of India and Labour Indians that should be working on bridging the gaps.
Think tanks can provide a reflection of the community’s needs and ideals, but the parties need to now proactively work with communities. Reform UK is no longer a fringe player, its expanding base within key demographics represents a political leap that could significantly influence future elections if left unchecked.
