Emerging and Minor Political Parties
Contents
● Reform UK
● The Green Party
● Sinn Fein/ DUP
Reform UK
Establishment As ‘The Brexit Party’ in 2018 (offshoot from UKIP)
As ‘Reform UK in 2021
→ Rebranded to widen focus beyond Brexit
Leadership Owned and led by Nigel Farage
→ Ex-Conservative MP
Ideology Right/Far-Right
Growth Reform has been growing rapidly since early 2024, when its radical
immigration policies began appealing to the British electorate.
It performed well in terms of votes in the 2024 election, but did not
achieve many seats. Since then, it has seen rapid growth in local
councils, and is projected to perform well in the local council elections
in May.
MPs Of the eight current Reform MPs, all of them were once
Conservative MPs, and five of them ran as Conservative MPs in the
2024 election, before defecting to Reform.
This suggests that Reform is a legitimate political threat, as it is
the party of choice for disillusioned Conservative MPs, allowing
it to increase its seat share during the electoral cycle.
Two high-profile midterm defectors include Suella Braverman and
Robert Jenrick.
Policies
● Reducing immigration (key policy)
○ Ending settlement of migrants, sending migrants back to France
, ● Scrapping net zero and environmental policies
● Establish a ‘patriotic curriculum’ which ensured teaching of slavery included
non-European examples as well as European
● Reverse the two child benefit cap restriction
○ Labour recently implemented the two child benefit cap, against their historical
policy - Reform moving in on Labour’s policies…
● Scrap interest on student loans
● Leaving the ECHR
● Increase defence spending
Power Base
● Right now, Reform isn’t a threat in Parliament, as it only has eight MPs and is the fifth
largest party in the House of Commons.
● It plays much more of a role in local governance
○ Reform UK made the most gains in the 2025 local council elections (which
didn’t take place across the whole country, only in thirteen councils).
○ They’re projected to perform well in May 2026.
Threat?
Yes No
Defecting MPs are attracted to it, and the The growth of Reform may be overstated
Conservative Party is in such a poor state due to sensationalism - it’s possible that the
that many MPs are considering defecting. disproportionate media attention has
skewed perceptions of their actual chances
in government.
Reform UK has disproportionate media Historically, minor parties don’t perform
attention (likely due to the personality of well, as in the ballot box people tend to vote
Nigel Farage), allowing it a stronger for the secure option - one of the two
platform to share its ideals. parties.
Immigration is a topical concern at the FPTP doesn’t let new parties in easily -
moment, and the Conservatives and Labour Reform candidates have to win their
are not trusted to handle it after the past constituencies to get a seat, they can’t just
few years. come a close second.
Populist policies now attract right AND left Accusations of radicalism concern people.
wing voters, like the plans to reverse the
two-child benefit cap (welfare! what!)
The Green Party of England and Wales
Contents
● Reform UK
● The Green Party
● Sinn Fein/ DUP
Reform UK
Establishment As ‘The Brexit Party’ in 2018 (offshoot from UKIP)
As ‘Reform UK in 2021
→ Rebranded to widen focus beyond Brexit
Leadership Owned and led by Nigel Farage
→ Ex-Conservative MP
Ideology Right/Far-Right
Growth Reform has been growing rapidly since early 2024, when its radical
immigration policies began appealing to the British electorate.
It performed well in terms of votes in the 2024 election, but did not
achieve many seats. Since then, it has seen rapid growth in local
councils, and is projected to perform well in the local council elections
in May.
MPs Of the eight current Reform MPs, all of them were once
Conservative MPs, and five of them ran as Conservative MPs in the
2024 election, before defecting to Reform.
This suggests that Reform is a legitimate political threat, as it is
the party of choice for disillusioned Conservative MPs, allowing
it to increase its seat share during the electoral cycle.
Two high-profile midterm defectors include Suella Braverman and
Robert Jenrick.
Policies
● Reducing immigration (key policy)
○ Ending settlement of migrants, sending migrants back to France
, ● Scrapping net zero and environmental policies
● Establish a ‘patriotic curriculum’ which ensured teaching of slavery included
non-European examples as well as European
● Reverse the two child benefit cap restriction
○ Labour recently implemented the two child benefit cap, against their historical
policy - Reform moving in on Labour’s policies…
● Scrap interest on student loans
● Leaving the ECHR
● Increase defence spending
Power Base
● Right now, Reform isn’t a threat in Parliament, as it only has eight MPs and is the fifth
largest party in the House of Commons.
● It plays much more of a role in local governance
○ Reform UK made the most gains in the 2025 local council elections (which
didn’t take place across the whole country, only in thirteen councils).
○ They’re projected to perform well in May 2026.
Threat?
Yes No
Defecting MPs are attracted to it, and the The growth of Reform may be overstated
Conservative Party is in such a poor state due to sensationalism - it’s possible that the
that many MPs are considering defecting. disproportionate media attention has
skewed perceptions of their actual chances
in government.
Reform UK has disproportionate media Historically, minor parties don’t perform
attention (likely due to the personality of well, as in the ballot box people tend to vote
Nigel Farage), allowing it a stronger for the secure option - one of the two
platform to share its ideals. parties.
Immigration is a topical concern at the FPTP doesn’t let new parties in easily -
moment, and the Conservatives and Labour Reform candidates have to win their
are not trusted to handle it after the past constituencies to get a seat, they can’t just
few years. come a close second.
Populist policies now attract right AND left Accusations of radicalism concern people.
wing voters, like the plans to reverse the
two-child benefit cap (welfare! what!)
The Green Party of England and Wales
