At least five Reform UK councillors have been members of a Facebook group linked to the far-right Patriot Platform, according to anti-fascist campaigners. The Patriot Platform is a group involved in blockades in Dover and Portsmouth by masked men.
The five councillors, two from Solihull, two from Gateshead, and one from Kent, were members of the Northeast Patriots Facebook group. Two councillors reportedly left the group after being contacted by the Guardian, and a fifth also stated he was no longer a member.
The Northeast Patriots group's front page directs visitors to the Patriot Platform's website. The Patriot Platform was established by Daniel Thomas, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Reform UK has been dealing with internal disagreements regarding its stance on the Patriot Platform, whose activities have been criticised by Nigel Farage and others.
Mark Thorn, a Tyneside Reform activist, set up the Northeast Patriots group. Hope Not Hate, an anti-fascism group, identified four councillors as members of the closed group. At least 14 other Reform councillors were invited to join the group, with one, Gateshead councillor James Wright, stating he no longer followed it.
Last week, Reform's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, met with Daniel Thomas in Portsmouth. This meeting occurred the day after Patriot Platform activists reportedly clashed with police during unrest in Portsmouth. Yusuf later said Thomas, a convicted criminal, made his points "respectfully" and challenged Kemi Badenoch's condemnation of the group.