Brexit Party

Reform UK is a conservative political party in the United Kingdom that seeks to achieve Brexit and secure UK independence from the European Union. It is led by Nigel Farage, it was formerly known as the Brexit Party

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Political positions
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History[edit]

The Brexit Party was founded in April 2019,[1] and it grew very quickly.[2] In May 2019, it received four members in the Welsh parliament after several Assembly Members defected from their respective parties,[3] and it also received Labour Party defectors.[4] Even members of the Liberal Democrats left to join the Brexit Party.[5] In five weeks of its creation, the Brexit Party's membership surpassed 100,000.[6] In the May 2019 European Parliament elections, the party performed strongly, winning the most votes of any party.[7] Later in the year, the party began taking over local town councils.[8]

In an IpsosMORI poll in October 2019, the Brexit Party was found to be "on the side of the British people" more than other parties in the eyes of the British public.[9]

On November 11, 2019, Farage announced the Brexit Party would not contest seats won by the Conservative Party in 2017, in an effort to not divide the pro-Brexit vote in the December snap election.[10] The party did not win any seats in the election, but it did help the Conservative Party take Labour-held seats by acting as a spoiler, and Farage's one-way cooperation with the Conservative Party helped the latter win additional seats.[11]

After the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, it was proposed that the Brexit Party change their name. In October 2020, Farage had applied to the Electoral Commission to rebrand the Brexit Party as Reform UK. He stated the party would now campaign on opposing COVID-19 restrictions.

## Political positions[edit]

In addition to supporting a clean exit from the European Union and restoring UK sovereignty, the Brexit Party supports protecting "free individuals, families and businesses from excessive government interference", as well as reforming the voting system, cutting VAT on fuel, scrapping the proposed HS2 railway and abolishing the House of Lords, television licence fee, postal voting, the inheritance tax and waste exportation. They also support ending all privatisation of the NHS, abolishing student loan interest and providing free broadband in deprived areas.[12] The party's beliefs are inspired by Athenian democracy.[13] Besides supporting a clean Brexit, the party takes conservative and populist positions,[14] including reducing immigration levels.[15]

## See also[edit]

* United Kingdom Independence Party

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Multiple references:
* Friedman, Victoria (April 12, 2019). Farage Launches Brexit Party to ‘Begin Political Revolution in UK’. Breitbart News. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
* Murphy, James (April 15, 2019). Farage Launches New Brexit Party in Advance of EU Elections. The New American. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
See also:
* Murphy, James (May 14, 2019). Nigel Farage Reemerges as a Trump-like Force in British Politics. The New American. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
2. ↑ Walker, Peter (May 15, 2019). Has the rise of the Brexit party blown away Ukip? The Guardian. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
3. ↑ Markham, Joe (May 16, 2019). Brexit Party Secure Four Members of Welsh Assembly in Mass Defection. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
4. ↑ Friedman, Victoria (July 5, 2019). Local Labour Politicians Defect to Brexit Party as Labour Slumps in Polls. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
5. ↑ Friedman, Victoria (July 11, 2019). Liberal Democrat Councillor Defects to Brexit Party. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
6. ↑ Montgomery, Jack (May 16, 2019). Farage’s Brexit Party Smashes 100,000 Registered Supporters Target, Aims to Pass Tory Party. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
7. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lawless, Jill (May 27, 2019). Brexit Party wins, Conservatives bashed in UK’s EU voting. Associated Press. May 27, 2019.
* James, William (May 26, 2019). UK ever more polarized as Brexit Party storms to EU vote win. Reuters. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Castle, Stephen (May 26, 2019). Nigel Farage’s Populist Brexit Party Wins Big in European Parliament Elections. The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* European elections 2019: Brexit Party dominates as Tories and Labour suffer. BBC News. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Kirk, Ashley; Wilson, Josh (May 27, 2019). EU election UK results and maps: Brexit Party wins nine of 10 regions, Lib Dems triumph in London. The Telegraph. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Budryk, Zack (May 26, 2019). Brexit Party set to win most UK seats in EU elections. The Hill. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
See also:
* Friedman, Victoria (May 27, 2019). Farage Declares ‘This Is Just the Beginning’ After Brexit Party Victory in EU Elections. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Lane, Oliver JJ (May 27, 2019). Farage: Social Media Has Changed Politics… Now We’ve Got to Change the People in Westminster. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Lawless, Jill; Katz, Gregory (May 27, 2019). Farage claims pro-Brexit momentum after divisive UK vote. Associated Press. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Pollak, Joel B. (May 27, 2019). Pollak: Brexit Party Win Also a Victory for Trump. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
* Fidler, Stephen (May 27, 2019). U.K.’s Main Parties Suffer a European Election Drubbing Over Brexit. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
The Brexit Party's debut in the European Parliament:
* Lane, Oliver JJ (July 2, 2019). Brexit MEPs Take Seats in EU Parliament Three Years After Leave Vote, Turn Backs on Euro Anthem. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
* Friedman, Victoria (July 2, 2019). ‘EU Is Not a Nation’: Rees-Mogg, Farage Defend Turning Backs on Euro Anthem. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
* Friedman, Victoria (July 3, 2019). Brexit Party MEP Slams EU Lawmakers Pushing for a ‘United States of Europe’. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
8. ↑ Brexit Party pact with Tories takes over Hartlepool Council. BBC News. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
9. ↑ Friedman, Victoria (October 9, 2019). Brexit Party Tops Poll in Most Trusted to Be on Side of British People. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
10. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lane, Oliver JJ (November 11, 2019). UK General Election: Putting ‘Country Before Party’, Farage Won’t Stand Against Existing Tory MPs. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
* Colchester, Max (November 11, 2019). Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party Gives Boris Johnson an Election Boost. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
* Lawless, Jill; Katz, Gregory (November 11, 2019). Brexit Party shifts tactics, won’t challenge Tories in vote. Associated Press. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
* Murphy, James (November 13, 2019). Brexit Party Will Not Contest Tory Seats in Coming British Election. The New American. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
See also
* Delingpole, James (November 11, 2019). Delingpole: Reluctant Hero Farage Puts Country and Brexit Before Ego and Party. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
* Zindulka, Kurt (November 14, 2019). Farage Scoffs at Johnson’s Last Minute ‘Deal’, Won’t Stand Aside in 300 Seats. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
* Faulconbridge, Guy; MacLellan, Kylie (November 14, 2019). No more surrender for Brexit Party's Farage in British election. Reuters. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
11. ↑ Multiple references:
* Friedman, Victoria (December 13, 2019). Corbyn Ally Admits Brexit Party Stole Labour Votes. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
* Lane, Oliver JJ (December 14, 2019). Nigel Farage’s Gamble Pays Off: Corbyn’s Labour Destroyed. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
* Davies, Andrew (December 18, 2019). Boris Johnson owes his huge victory to Nigel Paul Farage. The Washington Times. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
See also:
* Montgomery, Jack (January 1, 2020). ‘Remoaners Crushed, Brexit Blockers Gone’ – Farage Looks Forward to New Year. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
12. ↑ McTague, Tom (May 18, 2019). Nigel Farage’s startup politics. Politico. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
13. ↑ Lane, Oliver JJ (September 29, 2019). Lane: Brexit Party Embraces Populism Label With Nod to Ancient Athenian Democracy. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
14. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lawless, Jill (November 22, 2019). Farage tells UK voters his party is not just about Brexit. Associated Press. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
* Friedman, Victoria (November 22, 2019). Farage’s Brexit Party Launches ‘Contract with the British People’. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
* Friedman, Victoria (November 24, 2019). Farage Says UK Needs ‘Political Reform’ to Drain the Westminster ‘Swamp’. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
See also:
* Lane, Oliver JJ (November 22, 2019). Farage Slams Labour, Tories: ‘Manifestos Tell People What They Want to Hear Without Meaning It’. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
15. ↑ Gallardo, Cristina (November 22, 2019). Brexit Party calls for drastic cut to net migration to the UK. Politico. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

## External links[edit]

* The Brexit Party: What do they stand for, and what does it mean now they've won the European elections?, by Daniel Capurro of The Telegraph