Nigel Farage claims to be a passionate defender of free speech. He cares so much about the issue that he has skipped the first week of parliament’s return to fly to America to give evidence to the US Congress on the threat to free speech in Europe. It’s apparently a cause close to his heart.
But just as I was getting ready to sit down and cover Farage’s session giving evidence in Washington DC, something strange landed in my inbox: an email from Reform UK. “Thank you for your application for media accreditation to Reform UK’s 2025 national conference,” it read. “On this occasion your accreditation request has been declined.”
Reform’s refusal to let me into their conference is somewhat baffling. They require media attendees to be accredited journalists with a UK press card, which I am. They require you to register in good time with the proper details, which I did. I have a confirmation email from May this year confirming that “you have successfully registered” for Reform’s 2025 Nation Conference. “We’re excited to welcome you to Birmingham this September for what promises to be an unforgettable event,” their email read.
And now, just two days before the event, Reform UK has pulled my accreditation. Surely the self-styled party of free speech hasn’t refused to let in The New World just because we cover them critically? Yes, we have pointed out Nigel Farage’s toxic legacy on immigration over the last decade. Yes, we’ve reported how the far-right is exploiting this issue, and how Farage is using that to ride to power. Nigel Farage is making a bid to be prime minister, and we are scrutinising him closely – that’s our job.
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What is Nigel Farage so afraid of? Does he fear The New World so much that letting even one of our journalists into their conference – their home turf – would make it an unsafe space? Is Reform UK a party for snowflakes?
Free speech means letting people you don’t like say what they want. Being a politician means being written about by people who criticise you. Going to Reform’s conference was a chance to meet Reform’s members, hear the speeches firsthand, and see what the party is really doing. Why are they so worried about letting independent media do that?
It’s not only The New World that has Reform running scared, either. The Reform-run Nottinghamshire County Council has indefinitely banned its local newspaper from speaking to any of its councillors, stymying vital local reporting.
Reform UK might say that its conference is a private event and it’s up to them who attends. That’s technically true, but Farage and his team have been more than happy to slam privately-owned social networks for banning users or deleting posts they disagree with. Do they hold themselves to a lower standard? Or the rule that everyone else has to allow free speech, but not Reform UK?
Farage has flown all the way to America to talk about the threats to free speech in the UK, even as his own party shuts down critical and independent journalism. Perhaps one of the Congressman should ask him about that while he’s giving evidence?If Reform UK wants to admit their mistake and give me a pass to their conference, I’ll be there in Birmingham. If not, we’ll still keep covering Reform, even if we have to do it from afar. Are you really so scared of The New World?
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