By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - Reform UK is grappling with an internal rift as senior members clash over the party’s stance on supporters of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, British media reported Friday.
Key figures have publicly opposed the leadership’s clear disavowal of those attending Robinson’s rallies.
The division surfaced after Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, condemned any association with Robinson and his followers following a recent London protest in support of Robinson.
The conflict became apparent when Howard Cox, Reform UK’s 2024 London mayoral candidate, and Ben Habib, former Brexit Party MEP and parliamentary candidate, criticized Tice’s position, claiming that some protestors included "Reform’s own people."
Cox and Habib argued against dismissing Robinson’s supporters, a stance at odds with Tice and party leader Nigel Farage, who had previously distanced the party from Robinson’s base.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday for contempt of court after violating an injunction by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee.
Thousands gathered in central London over the weekend to protest the sentencing, bringing Reform UK’s internal tensions to light.
Cox, speaking on GB News’s ‘Outspoken’ program, voiced disagreement with Tice’s stance, arguing Robinson should not be jailed. Referring to himself as part of "that lot" a phrase Tice used. Cox suggested Farage may have felt Tice’s comments were overly harsh.
Farage, a longstanding figure in British right-wing politics, has distanced himself from Robinson’s base since riots in the summer, stating he has "never had anything to do with the Tommy Robinsons and those who genuinely do stir up hatred."
The statements by Cox and Habib highlight deep-seated tensions within Reform UK, potentially threatening party unity ahead of the next general election.