Reform-Supporting Neo-Nazi Suspended From Party

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A far-right activist who said Britain needs a “national socialist government” has been suspended from Reform UK following a Novara Media investigation.

In April, a reporter from Unherd, a news and commentary website owned by GB News owner Paul Marshall, went to Dagenham, Essex to report on the insurgent rise of Reform UK.

According to Unherd’s dispatch, in a tense meeting in Rainham working men’s club where a party seeking to professionalise met with a “lagered-up, pissed-off crowd”, one voice cut through the atmosphere. “There’s no point squabbling,” Kai Cunningham is reported to have said, to the loudest cheer of the night. “Reform is our only chance. The country is broken. Barking and Dagenham is broken, and all the lefties need to hear us say it’s broken, and realise we’re still here advocating for our country.”

Cunningham was described by Unherd as “representative of the new Reform”, but he also appears to be representative of something else.

In May, Cunningham was filmed among the small number of attendees at a “remigration” rally in Birmingham organised by far-right party Britain First.

In comments to a YouTuber who was filming the event, Cunningham said: “What Britain needs is a national socialist government.”

He then promoted the political group White Vanguard. “White Vanguard are the only British national socialist activist group. That’s what’s going to bring change – the only change.”

“National socialism is on the rise. It’s the only thing that’s going to save Britain,” he said.

Cunningham then defends the concept of ethno-nationalism, saying: “What’s wrong with ethno-nationalism? We’re told the lie today that anyone who obtains a legal piece of paper is British. Being British isn’t determined by your religion, your values, your faith – it’s determined by your ancestral heritage, your culture, your roots, your blood.”

In another video seen by Novara Media, Cunningham goes on an antisemitic rant through a loudspeaker. Referring to an anti-fascist counter-demonstration he says: “Everything you see in front of us is the doing of the Zionist Jews.”

“It’s time the white man stands up and takes this country back… No more Reform, no more Conservative, no more Labour. We need national socialism.

“Connect with your local white man. Train, get ready.

“The Muslim jihadis are the footsoldiers of the Zionist Jews.”

According to anti-fascist research group Red Flare, White Vanguard are a neo-Nazi group which is a reincarnation of Youth Alliance, a far-right group which disappeared after a number of its activists were arrested during the racist riots last year.

When approached by Novara Media, a Reform UK spokesman said: “Kai Cunningham’s membership has been suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of an internal investigation. We will never tolerate those with extreme views in our party.”

This week it was revealed that Reform UK has introduced a less stringent “common sense” vetting scheme for candidates and encouraged people who previously failed the vetting process to reapply. This is despite the fact that neo-Nazis have been eyeing up Reform as a vehicle for their politics.

Prominent far-right figures including Mark Collett, a former BNP organiser who set up Patriotic Alternative party and David Clews, a far-right influencer and conspiracy theorist, have signed a “declaration of intent” to “drag Reform to the right”.

Collett has called on those of his supporters who are “not known, who have a clean public image” to “join Reform” and “help to steer that party from within”.

Unherd reported that Cunningham had “a political awakening while undergoing basic training in the army”. After this, “A plan was hatched. A degree in law would get Cunningham credibility. It would force those in Westminster to take him seriously.”

For Cunningham, speaking at a Reform UK appears to have been an opportunity to gain experience in politics, which he describes on his LinkedIn profile as “my main ambition”.

Posting about the event on LinkedIn, Cunningham said: “It was a pleasure speaking at Reform UK’s east London branch meeting last night in Rainham on behalf of your people. A lot of passion from attendees which was great. An invaluable experience developing my public speaking.” This post has now been deleted.

A spokesperson for Red Flare said: “While Reform have distanced themselves publicly from figures such as Steven Yaxley-Lennon [AKA Tommy Robinson], this is who they host at their meetings; sickening racists and antisemites openly advocating for neo-Nazism.”

Approached for comment by Novara Media, Cunningham said he left Reform “on my own accord some days ago to prevent tarnishing their image with my political affiliations” but that he supports “the majority of their policies”.

He said: “When I say national socialism I’m referring to the political ideology.”

Cunningham said he wants “a white country built by white people for white people” which he admitted “may come across as racist”.

“Everything I said about Zionists is factual,” he said.