Nigel Farage’s call for a full suspension of immigration has supercharged Reform UK’s rise, reshaping Britain’s political narrative around national identity, border control, and the future of public services.
At a Glance
- Farage demands a full stop on immigration to preserve British identity
- Reform UK wins 677 council seats and 10 councils in May elections
- 525,000 net annual migration projected by 2028
- Reform gains control of Kent County Council and by-election in Runcorn
- TikTok videos fuel youth engagement as Farage tops 1M followers
Farage’s Call to Halt Immigration
In a speech on VE Day, Nigel Farage accused decades of mass immigration of eroding the United Kingdom’s cultural fabric. “Many of those that have come in the last 20 years do not share our values, and so in a sense, we become a little bit less British every day,” Farage declared, as reported by Breitbart.
He criticized immigration policies introduced by Tony Blair and extended under Boris Johnson, calling them “schemes that serve big business but fracture communities.” Citing a 10 million increase in population over 20 years, Farage urged the UK to exit the European Convention on Human Rights to regain full control over deportations and asylum policy.
Watch a report: Farage Pledges Local Councils Will Block Immigration.
Reform UK’s Electoral Shockwave
Farage’s message has translated into real political power. In the 2025 local elections, Reform UK won 677 council seats and took control of 10 local authorities, including a razor-thin by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby by just six votes.
In Kent—long seen as a bellwether on immigration—Reform swept 57 of 81 seats in a county council landslide, according to official results. Analysts say these wins have reshaped the political calculus for both Labour and the Conservatives, with voters clearly signaling fatigue over the status quo.
Immigration, Identity, and the National Mood
The UK’s net migration is now expected to remain at 525,000 annually through 2028, per projections cited by The Times. In response, Labour officials have floated new rules that would redefine asylum eligibility and close family-based immigration loopholes, detailed in The Independent.
As Bloomberg’s opinion desk noted, Farage’s rise proves that both legacy parties underestimated public anxiety over migration, particularly in high-pressure regions like Kent, now a Reform stronghold.
Digital Firepower and Youth Appeal
Farage’s reach has extended far beyond the campaign trail. With over one million followers, he is now the most followed British politician on TikTok, a fact underscored in a Guardian analysis. His viral videos, including “We’ve Got Momentum,” play up themes of patriotism, independence, and local control—resonating across generations, even if critics accuse him of oversimplifying complex policy.
Reform UK’s momentum has transformed immigration from a niche debate into the defining issue of Britain’s next general election. Whether it marks a passing surge or a permanent realignment remains to be seen—but Nigel Farage has made one thing clear: he intends to lead the charge.
