Five Reform UK councillors from different parts of England have been identified as members of the Northeast Patriots Facebook group, a page linked to the far-right vigilante group Patriot Platform. The councillors include two from Solihull, two from Gateshead, and one from Kent. Following media inquiries, two councillors left the group, and another stated they were no longer members.
The Northeast Patriots group promotes the Patriot Platform, which was founded by Daniel Thomas, a figure associated with far-right activism and a longtime ally of Tommy Robinson, a prominent far-right activist. Visitors to the group's page are encouraged to "join the movement" via a website affiliated with Patriot Platform.
Mark Thorn, a Tyneside Reform UK activist whose Facebook profile lists him as a “Reform UK Representative/Vaccination Campaigner” for Gateshead Central and Whickham, created the Northeast Patriots group. The anti-fascism organization Hope Not Hate has confirmed that at least four Reform UK councillors were members of the closed Facebook group, citing the use of tagged handles in welcome messages as evidence of their membership. In addition, at least 14 other Reform councillors reportedly received invitations to join the group.
One of the councillors associated with the group, James Wright of Gateshead, stated that he joined the group to monitor local political discussions and community pages but no longer follows it. He emphasized that membership in a social media group does not equate to endorsing all views expressed by other members or affiliated organizations. Wright further disavowed any support for unlawful activities or violence, stressing his commitment to representing his constituents.
The situation has sparked some division within Reform UK. Party home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf met with Daniel Thomas in Portsmouth shortly after Patriot Platform activists clashed with police during far-right unrest in the city. Yusuf later defended Thomas’s conduct during their encounter and challenged Conservative Party member Kemi Badenoch’s description of Patriot Platform members as “thugs.”
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, initially condemned the group’s activities, calling them “disgusting,” “wrong,” and “horrible.” However, some within the party have expressed unease over his continued criticism of the group, leading to what observers describe as inconsistent messaging regarding the party’s stance.
Gregory Davis, a senior researcher at Hope Not Hate, expressed concern over the connection between Reform UK councillors and the far-right vigilante group. He highlighted that Patriot Platform has been involved in multiple confrontations with law enforcement, resulting in several arrests, with more expected in the future. Davis described these links as "very worrying," given the group's reputation and activities.
The emerging links between Reform UK councillors and the Patriot Platform spotlight ongoing tensions within the party about associations with far-right elements, as well as broader debates within UK politics about the boundaries between mainstream political activity and extremist groups.