Reform UK Remains a Serious Threat to Take Power Despite Scandals, Fueled by Public Fear and Insecurity
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnharris. "Don’t discount Reform because it’s had a bad year. In our angry, fragile democracy, anything can happen | John Harris | The Guardian." September 20, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that even though Reform UK is currently mired in financial scandals, we shouldn't assume they're finished because widespread public fear and anxiety about the economy, immigration, and other issues could still propel them to power. Labour's best strategy, the author says, is to counter this fear with genuine hope and visible, concrete improvements to people's lives rather than trying to out-fear the fear-mongers.
Conclusion
Labour should not dismiss Reform UK's chances of winning power despite its recent financial scandals, and must urgently counter Reform's fear-based politics by offering tangible hope and change to prevent a shift toward authoritarian politics.
Premises
- Reform UK faces serious scandals (police and parliamentary investigations, potentially illegal £36m crypto donations) that could weaken it
- Despite these scandals, widespread public anxiety and insecurity since the 2008 financial crash create fertile ground for Reform's message
- Reform and the Tories exploit public fear (economic insecurity, immigration, climate crisis) with simplistic, crisis-heightening solutions like Farage's promised 'national emergency'
- Public concerns about immigration stem from legitimate economic anxieties (exploitative labor practices, wage undercutting) as well as misinformation and racism, making the issue politically volatile
- Historical precedent shows that anxiety and fear can warp politics and empower demagogues
- Labour's only viable strategy is to offer 'modest hope and constructive change' through concrete actions (infrastructure investment, housing, skills training) rather than matching Reform's fear-mongering
- The upcoming election will be decided more by emotional appeal than policy specifics, making the framing of hope versus fear critically important
Assumptions
- Public opinion is highly volatile and can shift rapidly regardless of scandal severity
- Fear-based politics is inherently more appealing or effective in times of crisis than hope-based politics unless actively countered
- Andy Burnham and Labour leadership have the authenticity needed to credibly offer an alternative to fear-based politics
- Most British people are not as fearful or extreme as media coverage suggests, and can be persuaded by evidence of moderation
- Concrete policy actions (trains, housing, skills training) can effectively counter emotional/fear-based political appeals
- Democratic institutions are currently 'fragile' enough that a party like Reform could genuinely win power despite scandals