Reform split over support for Tommy Robinson protesters

Reform UK is facing a schism over its approach to supporters of Tommy Robinson, after high-profile party figures said it was wrong to disavow those who had gone to a rally backing the far-right leader on Saturday.

- Rowena Mason Peter Walker

Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader, said this week that the party "want nothing to do with" Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and "all of that lot".

The party's leader, Nigel Farage, said after the far-right riots in the summer that he had never had anything to do with "the Tommy Robinsons and those who genuinely do stir up hatred".

But two high-profile 2024 candidates, Howard Cox and Ben Habib, took a different position to the leadership, saying those who attended Saturday's rally were some of Reform's own people.

Thousands of Robinson supporters had gathered in central London last weekend for a protest after he was remanded into custody by police. The far-right activist was subsequently jailed on Monday for 18 months for contempt of court after repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction.