Farage has previously described Tate as an ‘important voice’ for young people (Image: -)

One source told The Guardian: “Yes, I have advised Nigel and others to be more careful about who we associate with – if we are to win over a broader section of British society, we cannot be linked to unpopular characters or people who have made unsavoury comments about women.”

Tate has faced several allegations of sexual abuse (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

It comes as a police force being probed over its handling of sex abuse allegations made against influencer Andrew Tate has reopened its investigation into the claims.

Another senior Reform source said of Tate: “I am quite familiar with him and what he’s like, I look at his social media. He is nothing to do with Reform.

The party has sought to distance itself from Robinson in the past (Image: Getty)

Farage has long resisted calls from supporters to include controversial figures on the right such as Tommy Robinson in the party more prominently.

Despite Reform insisting that Robinson would not be considered to stand as a candidate for the party, the controversial figure endorsed Matthew Goodwin in the recent Gorton and Denton byelection.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “We have consistently been clear on this issue. He isn’t welcome in the party.”

Luke Tryl, who runs the polling company More in Common, believes that party insiders are right to fear that an association with controversial figures such as Tate and Robinson could impact them negatively.

“There is a big distinction between 2024 voters and their newer voters and even more so for new women.”

He added:“The risk then to Reform is their association with online right figures alienates the wavering female voter who ultimately will decide whether Reform gets into government.

“The sort of voter who is tempted to roll the dice as the status quo feels so miserable, but is also worried Reform may be too extreme.”

Reform leaders to distance themselves from Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson

Reform UK is facing renewed pressure over its relationship with controversial figures on the political right, with reports that senior figures want the party to create greater distance between itself and personalities including Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive as Reform attempts to establish itself as a mainstream political organisation with ambitions beyond protest politics. The party’s rapid electoral growth has brought greater scrutiny of its candidates, activists, public statements and relationships with figures outside formal party structures.

Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson occupy very different positions within Britain’s political landscape, but both have become associated with controversies that create difficulties for a party seeking to broaden its appeal.

Recent reporting has suggested that some Reform insiders believe links with figures such as Tate could damage the party’s credibility among voters who might otherwise be open to supporting it. The Guardian reported in March that some Reform figures were concerned about associations with what it described as extreme online personalities, particularly because of the potential impact on female voters and the wider electorate.

The debate has become more complicated in September following tensions inside Reform over demonstrations involving activists linked to the nationalist right.

Why Andrew Tate has become an issue for Reform

Andrew Tate has maintained a substantial online following, particularly among young men, and has been a prominent figure in debates over masculinity, gender and social media culture.

Nigel Farage has previously spoken positively about Tate’s influence among young men. In 2024, Farage described Tate as an “important voice” for young men and argued that he could give boys confidence. At the same time, Tate has faced criminal investigations and allegations in Romania and the UK, which he denies.

The distinction between political association and formal party affiliation is important.

Tate is not a Reform UK politician, and his views cannot automatically be attributed to the party. Nevertheless, public figures can become politically relevant when senior politicians have interacted with them or commented on their influence.

That creates a particular problem for Reform.

The party is trying to appeal to voters who are concerned about immigration, taxation, public services and political accountability. At the same time, it needs to avoid allowing controversial personalities outside the party to define its public image.

Tommy Robinson presents a different challenge

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is another figure frequently mentioned in discussions about Reform’s relationship with the nationalist right.

Robinson is not a Reform UK member of parliament or official party leader. However, individuals associated with his political network have appeared around Reform events and demonstrations.

That connection became particularly visible during September’s disputes over protests in Dover and Portsmouth.

The Guardian reported that Reform leader Nigel Farage condemned masked demonstrators involved in the Dover blockade, describing their actions as “horrible”. At the same time, some Reform members and councillors expressed support for the protesters, creating an internal disagreement over how the party should respond.

The episode illustrated the difficulty Reform faces in controlling the political environment around its supporters.

The Portsmouth confrontation

The controversy intensified when Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, confronted Reform’s Zia Yusuf during a visit to Portsmouth.

ITV reported that Thomas, who has been described as an associate of Robinson, interrupted Yusuf during an interview and challenged the party’s approach to the demonstrations.

Thomas has claimed a role in organising a Dover protest involving people wearing black clothing and balaclavas. ITV also reported his previous conviction and imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to attempting to kidnap a man at knifepoint.

Yusuf’s interaction with Thomas subsequently became part of the broader controversy.

The Guardian reported that Yusuf told Thomas that he took his word for his account of events and later described the interaction as respectful, while Thomas challenged criticism of the protests.

The episode did not establish a formal relationship between Reform UK and Robinson.

It did, however, demonstrate why the party’s leadership is increasingly concerned about the distinction between its official political programme and the activities of people operating around its political orbit.

Reform has already faced candidate-vetting controversies

The debate over Tate and Robinson comes after Reform has faced repeated questions about candidate selection and vetting.

In April, the Guardian reported that several Reform candidates had been linked to offensive or extremist comments made online. The newspaper said Hope Not Hate had identified candidates who had expressed racist views or support for Tommy Robinson.

Reform leaders have maintained that their candidate-vetting processes are rigorous. The allegations nonetheless created political pressure because the party was attempting to demonstrate that its rapidly expanding organisation could maintain standards comparable with established parties.

This is one reason the issue has become strategically important.

A political party can control its official candidates and spokespeople. It has considerably less control over activists, supporters and unaffiliated personalities who identify with some of its political themes.

The more successful a party becomes, the larger that surrounding political ecosystem can become.

The danger of association

The central concern for Reform leaders is therefore not necessarily whether Tate or Robinson formally belong to the party.

It is whether voters associate Reform with them.

That distinction matters because political parties compete not only on policy but also on reputation.

A voter who supports lower taxes or tighter immigration controls may not support the views expressed by Tate or Robinson. If the party is repeatedly associated with controversial personalities, that voter may nevertheless conclude that the wider political movement is not one they wish to identify with.

The Guardian reported in March that some Reform insiders were particularly concerned that association with Tate could alienate women and broader groups of mainstream voters.

This does not establish that such voters would actually leave Reform.

It does show that senior party figures are conscious of the potential reputational cost.

But there is also a political tension inside Reform

Creating distance from figures on the nationalist right is not necessarily straightforward.

Reform has built part of its political appeal around issues including immigration, national sovereignty, border controls and criticism of established political institutions.

Those themes overlap with concerns expressed by activists outside the party.

The difficulty is establishing where the boundaries lie.

The September controversy over Dover and Portsmouth demonstrated this clearly. Farage publicly criticised masked protesters, while some people within the broader Reform movement defended them.

For Reform’s leadership, the challenge is to establish that the party can advocate tougher immigration policies without becoming identified with groups or individuals whose conduct or rhetoric it does not endorse.

That distinction is likely to become increasingly important as the party expands.

Reform wants to look like a governing organisation

The question ultimately connects to Reform’s wider transformation.

The party is no longer simply a small protest movement. It now controls councils and has elected representatives across different parts of Britain.

It has also received substantial political funding. The Guardian reported this month that Reform has received £72 million from cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, with Nigel Farage planning a major expansion of the party’s professional organisation. The party has advertised dozens of professional roles, including campaign and organisational positions.

That professionalisation increases the importance of discipline.

A party preparing for government needs clear rules governing candidates, spokespeople, campaign events and relationships with outside organisations.

Reform’s own public messaging increasingly reflects that ambition.

At its September conference, Zia Yusuf presented the party’s programme as a plan for its first 100 days in government and argued that Reform should be treated as a serious alternative to the established parties.

The leadership therefore has an incentive to distinguish its formal organisation from individuals whose public reputations could complicate that message.

The issue is not confined to Tate and Robinson

The wider debate also includes figures such as activists involved in anti-migrant demonstrations and online political campaigns.

Recent events have shown that Reform supporters do not all agree about where the boundaries should be drawn.

Some regard activists outside the party as useful allies in drawing attention to immigration concerns. Others worry that association with confrontational or extremist figures could undermine Reform’s attempt to appeal to a wider electorate.

That internal disagreement is likely to continue.

Political movements often experience tension between grassroots activists and professional leadership, particularly when a party grows rapidly.

Reform’s situation is especially notable because its rise has been accompanied by a large expansion in membership, councillors, candidates and professional staff.

What distancing could mean

If Reform leaders do decide to create greater distance from Tate and Robinson, that would not necessarily mean abandoning the issues that have helped the party build support.

The party could continue campaigning for stricter immigration controls, changes to asylum policy and reforms to the criminal justice system while making clear that it does not endorse particular individuals or movements outside its formal structure.

That distinction would allow Reform to maintain its policy positions while attempting to reduce reputational risks.

Whether such an approach satisfies the party’s grassroots supporters is a separate question.

Some activists may see distancing from prominent figures on the right as unnecessary or even counterproductive. Others may regard tighter boundaries as essential to building a disciplined political organisation.

The September disputes suggest that this is already an active debate within Reform.

A test of political discipline

The controversy surrounding Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson therefore reflects a broader challenge facing Reform UK.

The party’s rapid growth has created opportunities but also greater scrutiny.

When Reform was a smaller political organisation, relationships between politicians, activists and online personalities could remain relatively peripheral. As the party becomes more established, those relationships are increasingly examined as evidence of its political identity.

For Farage and his colleagues, the challenge is to define that identity clearly.

The party can campaign on immigration, national sovereignty and economic reform without automatically accepting the views of every individual who supports those causes. But maintaining that distinction requires consistent messaging and organisational discipline.

The recent disputes over protests, candidate vetting and controversial personalities show how difficult that can be.

The reported desire among some Reform figures to distance the party from Tate and Robinson should therefore be understood within this wider transformation.

It is not simply a question of two individuals.

It is about how Reform defines the boundaries of its movement as it attempts to operate as a national political organisation with ambitions for government.

Whether the party can maintain those boundaries while retaining the support of its grassroots will be one of the more significant organisational questions facing Reform in the period ahead.

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