On a recent episode of Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ride, there was discussion about the relationship between the UK political party Reform and women. On the one hand, Reform is not necessarily doing well with women, especially young ones. On the other hand, there seems to be increased presence of women within the party, as well as efforts to court them. So that got me thinking: what’s next for Reform and women?
Reform
A quick brief on Reform for any non-British readers. The Reform Party was founded by veteran politician and famed rabble-rouser Nigel Farage, a man known for being loved and loathed in equal measure. Farage had previously been known as the leader of UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party), a right-wing, anti-European Union party that seemed to come out of nowhere to enter mainstream political conversation. He left UKIP in 2018 and then founded the successful Brexit Party in 2019. Following Britain’s exit from the EU in 2020, Farage rebranded Brexit as the Reform in 2021.
Reform is a right-wing party with a focus on immigration, a subject of great focus here in the UK. The party runs on the idea of being outsiders, blaming decades of rule by the established parties for a variety of issues. Reform supports stricter legal immigration, increasing defense spending, reforming the NHS and increasing police numbers. They oppose Net Zero, diversity politics, the license fee and illegal immigration.
Their first MP was Lee Anderson, who represents Ashfield. Mr. Anderson had the whip removed by the Conservative Party in 2019 and after sitting as an independent, joined Reform. He ran for the party in the 2024 election and won.
Several more MPs were elected in the 2024 election: Nigel Farage for Clacton, Richard Tice for Boston and Skegness, Rupert Lowe for Great Yarmouth and James McMurdock for South Basildon and East Thurrock. This was a huge personal victory for Farage, who despite having been an MEP, had lost seven parliamentary elections before winning.
Their first by-election victory was in Runcorn and Helsby. When Labour MP Mike Amesbury resigned following a conviction for assault against a constituent, Reform ran Sarah Pochin. Ms. Pochin overturned a 14,700 majority by winning, though her majority is only an extremely narrow six.
Two MPs no longer represent Reform. Mr. Lowe had the whip suspended following allegations of bullying. Lowe and others believe this was revenge for criticising Farage, and had since come out strongly against the party. The second is Mr. McMurdock, who voluntarily resigned from the whip following allegations of untoward business dealings. He officially left the party in early July 2025.
Reform did very well in the 2025 local elections. 1,641 council seats, twenty-three councils and six mayoral seats were up for grabs. The party placed first, winning 667 seats, gaining control of ten councils and two mayoralties. One of these new mayors is Andrea Jenkyns, who now represents my seat of Greater Lincolnshire. They were 704 votes out in one mayoralty, and were surely close in a number of other seats. The party hopes to increase their numbers in the next local elections.
Women
Ever since getting the Representation of the People Act 1918, and later gaining the vote equal to men in 1928, women have been involved in politics. Three women have served as PM: Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss. They have led parties and been First Minister of Scotland. Ordinary women vote and whilst there is perhaps less of a focus on the female vote in the UK than in the US, it is certainly there.
Women tend to lean more to the left than men, but not by a strong margin. According to a YouGov representative poll about voting demographics in the 2024 GE, 35% of women voted for Labour, 26% for the Conservatives, 13% for the Liberal Democrats, 12% for Reform, 8% for the Greens and 6% for others. The Labour vote was 1% higher than men. They voted Conservative in a larger number than men, but fewer women voted Reform.
Only 12% of women aged 18-24 voted Conservative or Reform, with 6% each. That number was 55% for 65+, at 43% Conservative and 13% Reform.
In general, 12% of women voted for Reform against 17% of men. If they voted right, they were more likely to vote Conservative: 19% of women v 15% of men.
The Conservatives have their fourth female leader in Kemi Badenoch, but time will tell if that brings women on side.
Reform and Women
As you can see from the poll linked, women are less likely than men to vote Reform. Whilst this does change by age, there is still a fairly significant gender gap.
A recent YouGov poll asked voters how they would vote in another election. Reform have increased with women of every age group:
18-24: 7% (6% in 2024)
25-49: 18% (10% in 2024)
50-64: 29% (16% in 2024)
65+: 32% (13% in 2024)
24% of women would now vote Reform, double the number from a year ago.
So as you can see, women are making inroads. Still, it varies hugely by age. Reform does better with older women. You might think that this is ok, as older people vote A LOT more than young people do. Still, when it comes to elections, every vote counts and considering women make up roughly half the electorate, you need everyone. Couple that with the fact that Labour want to extend the franchise to sixteen and seventeen year olds, of whom Reform might struggle with the female half.
What influences the female vote?
One factor is the aura that Reform exudes. Led by Nigel Farage, the party seems to cultivate an aura of masculinity in the same vein as Donald Trump and the new right. You see so many videos of Farage and his friends downing pints as young men queue up for selfies with perhaps the UK’s most famous politicians. It’s a factor that Reform seems to have recognised. During the 2025 local elections, they put out videos of women campaigning for them, explaining why a vote for Reform is good for women.
It could also be down to politics. As indicated in the polls above, women are less likely to vote for the right. When they do, they lean more towards the moderate Conservatives and eschew the ‘extremism’ of Reform. I put that in air quotes because there is an accusation that Reform are extreme and right-wing, but it is not an accusation I wish to level.
One factor could be that one of their former MPs, James McMurdock, has an assault conviction against an ex-girlfriend. Whilst any MP may be discovered to be abusive or violent, it tends to happen after the election. Ant Middleton, a former SAS soldier and current supporter of Reform, has a conviction for assaulting a female police officer (and a male one too, I must point out).
On the flipside, Reform may also just appeal to a woman’s political nature. Conservative women exist and they may have strong views on a number of issues. One example of this is the ever tense issue of immigration. With immigration on the increase and demographics on the rise, there is a worry about how this can affect women. The crux of this argument is that a number of immigrants come from countries, cultures and societies in which women are inferior. These immigrants may often sexually assault women, believing it to be acceptable as they are white or not of their religion or something else. One only has to look at the horrific grooming gang scandal that has engulfed the nation, in which white, working-class girls from broken families were groomed and raped on a mass scale by majority Pakistani men. Police refused to get involved out of fear of being branded racist.
One example of a group that could lean towards Reform is the recently founded Women’s Safety Initiative. In their own words, the group says ‘Our mission is to expose the dangers of uncontrolled immigration, put women and children first, advocate for victims, and demand real solutions.’ They point out the per capita rape and sexual assault crimes committed by migrants. Its founder, Jess Gill, spoke of her support for Reform in a Sky News video.
On the other hand, you see many anti-right and pro-migration groups made up of women. There is a deep divide on immigration lines, one exemplified by activists on either side.
I spoke to two different young women regarding their view of Reform:
Liv- ‘Reform UK is without a doubt building a huge base of loyal supporters and picking up traction. Latest figures from YouGov show that at the time of writing, Reform UK is polling at 29%, seven points over Labour and a whopping 12 points above the Conservatives . Even amongst female voters, Reform is topping the polls. In the same YouGov survey Reform are leading the poll with 25% of women surveyed saying they would vote for Reform if an election was called tomorrow.
Over past years and decades, local councils across the country have seen their budgets decimated by mounting costs from social care and SEND provisions. Reform UK have pledged to cut EDI initiatives, net zero pledges and other schemes that are seen as ‘wasteful’ and reroute this funding into social care. Of course, anyone with an ounce of economic literacy can see that local authorities are plagued with waste. In 2024, Carers UK found that of the 5 million people in the UK that provide unpaid care, women can carry out nearly 60% of that. You would think that Reform’s pledge to fund more social care would be hugely beneficial to women, however due to Reform’s endless drama and empty pledges this is sadly not the case. Since May’s election Reform have lost 11 of their councillors.
Politically, there are a million and one examples of Reform members, Councillors or MPs have conducted themselves in a below par standard when it comes to women. The former Reform MP James McMurdock was convicted for attacking his girlfriend in 2006. This was made public after his election to parliament, and Reform’s reaction to his conviction was one of ignorance; with him eventually ‘self suspending’ himself from Reform for allegations relating to his business activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017 I lost my cousin to domestic violence, I could never back a political party that so willingly accepted someone who committed violence against women, having experienced the pain that comes from having a family member who was a victim of domestic violence.
Reform is a complete mess; full of political empty promises, unethical individuals and the hand-me-down rubbish that has thankfully now either left or been kicked out of the Conservative Party. Reform is a serious player in the political landscape, but arrogance, complacency and failure to prepare will soon send rain into paradise.’
Morgan WSI: ‘After the 2024 UK General Election, Reform UK, has enjoyed a surge of enthusiasm, capturing the support of many British voters. Recent polls highlight Reform UK’s commanding lead with 34% support, ahead of Labour (20%) and the Conservatives (16%), with estimates suggesting they could claim 271 to 347 seats in a new election. The party’s bold, principled vision and strong connection with Leave voters and working-class communities have propelled its ascent, cementing Reform UK as an energetic and influential player in shaping Britain’s political landscape.
Historically, Reform UK’s male-dominated image restricted its appeal among women, but the party is now actively working to attract female voters through targeted strategies and prominent women in its ranks. A central tactic is “hyper-localism,” focusing on women’s safety, crime reduction, and local issues, led by Reform’s first female MP, Sarah Pochin, and Councillor Catherine Becker. Pochin’s campaign, for example, struck a chord with women by tackling safety concerns linked to asylum seeker housing. Councillor Natalie Oliver has also been a strong voice for protecting women and children across Lincolnshire and beyond, reinforcing Reform’s commitment to these priorities. The party’s visibility has been boosted by figures like Andrea Jenkyns, who won the Lincolnshire mayoral role, underlining Reform’s drive for greater female representation. By tapping into disillusionment with mainstream parties and prioritising women’s safety, Reform is steadily gaining support among female voters.
Reform UK is intensifying its appeal to women by addressing key concerns such as safety, family wellbeing, and economic security through a robust policy platform. The “hyper-localism” approach champions stronger policing and safer communities, with Pochin and Becker at the forefront. Reform also takes a firm stand on safeguarding women’s rights and spaces, opposing “transgender ideology” in schools, prohibiting social transitioning for under-16s, and addressing issues like grooming gangs, which resonate with women who value single-sex spaces and child protection. Beyond safety, Reform tackles caregiving pressures often faced by women, proposing a royal commission to reform adult social care, alongside tax relief and support for healthcare worker immigration. By promoting a merit-based system and rejecting DEI quotas, it is important to note that Councillor Natalie Oliver advocates for fairness and opportunities based on ability. This emphasis on women’s and children’s safety, paired with practical economic and social policies, highlights Reform’s dedication to winning the confidence of female voters across the UK.
Reform UK’s stringent immigration policies resonate powerfully with the Women’s Safety Initiative’s urgent mission to expose the perils of unchecked mass immigration and aid victims of sexual crimes and grooming gangs. The Women’s Safety Initiative highlights Ministry of Justice figures revealing that 26.1% of sexual offense convictions involve foreign nationals, who are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for such crimes, with 48 nationalities surpassing British nationals in arrest rates. The widespread rape and grooming of young girls, predominantly by Pakistani gangs is monumental to mention as this atrocity has been going on for over fourty years and as recently exposed by the BBC, South Yorkshire Police’s role in concealing these atrocities, demands critical attention.
The Women’s Safety Initiative (WSI) insists on transformative action to protect women and children in the UK, arguing that current policies prioritise multiculturalism over their safety. WSI demands a strict immigration cap to prevent entry from nations where femicide and severe abuse of women are normalised and practiced. Additionally, WSI insists on the immediate deportation of any foreign national convicted of a sex offence, noting that most such crimes carry sentences over 12 months, which should already trigger deportation,questioning why this policy is not consistently applied. Furthermore, WSI pushes for more community policing to ensure a visible police presence, enhancing community safety.
Reform UK’s policies strongly align with WSI’s demands for a strict immigration cap and immediate deportation of foreign sex offenders, reflecting a shared focus on reducing immigration-related safety risks. Their commitment to law and order supports WSI’s push for community safety, though specific plans for community policing are less explicit. While Reform’s broader platform and rhetoric may not appeal to all of WSI’s supporters, their core immigration and crime policies make them a natural ally for WSI’s transformative safety agenda.’
The Issues
A YouGov poll earlier this year asked which parties did best on certain issues. Reform won on two issues:
Asylum and Immigration- 36%
Law and Order- 24%
They are the only party to get more than 25% for a particular issue. Labour got 22% for the NHS and the Conservatives 19% for economy/taxation. Reform’s worst performance was 10% for education and schools, possibly because it is not an emphasis on their platform or because Labour tends to be more popular in that area. ‘Don’t know’ is nevertheless the highest answer for each issue.
Another poll from the 21st July showed that 53% of women put immigration and asylum in their top three most important issues facing the country. 21% said the same for crime. The economy was second highest at 47%, with health third at 39%. Considering Reform are most popular on immigration and asylum, this might give them some hope. Still, they have 12% on the economy and on the NHS, so that might be something they need to work on.
Two more issues that seem to be more gendered than others are the trans debate and the burka/niqab ban.
The trans debate is one that brings out strong opinions on both sides. Reform takes a conservative stance on trans issues. In their 2024 manifesto, they state that they would:
‘Ban transgender ideology in primary and secondary schools- no gender questioning, social transitioning or pronoun swapping. Inform parents of under 16s about their children’s life decisions. Schools must have single sex facilities.’
‘Mandate single sex spaces- public toilets and changing areas must provide single sex facilities.’
A May 2025 poll showed what women think of the trans debate. They were less likely than men to think that trans women should use the women’s toilets (13% v 15%), but also less likely to think that they should use the men’s toilets (14% v 16%). They are more likely to believe that they should use unisex loos (46% v 36%).
Women were less likely to think that the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on trans people was the right decision (61% v 65%). That being said, they were more likely to think that it would have a positive impact on them, as well as friends and family. Women were also less likely to think that only biological women should be able to compete in ladies’ sports, that passports should show someone’s biological sex and an app should be based on someone’s birth sex. That being said, a majority still tended to approve of those things.
Views on trans issues aren’t also dependent on ideology. American swimmer Riley Gaines is a noted Republican and Trump supporter. Author J. K. Rowling remains left-leaning.
The debate over the burka/niqab also remains heated in the U.K. Reform’s Sarah Pochin advocated for a ban on religious face coverings during her first speech at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Zia Yusuf, former Chairman of Reform, openly disagreed with the policy, but it has once again opened up the discussion.
A 2016 poll revealed that women were less likely to support a ban on religious face coverings (56% v 58%), but interestingly, were more likely to want to ban the burkini (47% to 46%). Will that number have changed in nine years?
A different poll that same year, however, showed women were more likely to support a ban (51% to 49%). That poll, which asked respondents across three countries their views, showed a strong difference in opinion. Germans and Brits were much more likely to support a ban, whilst Americans cited religious freedom in opposing such a ban.
Of course, one must ask about how important these subjects are to women, and to voters in general, and how it would affect their vote.
The Result
The question remains: are women for Reform, and are Reform for women? It’s a question I certainly can’t answer with certainty, for the answer depends entirely on the person who is asked it. You will have some women who are entirely supportive of the party, as well as those who are not. Their views will attract some but abhor others.
As you can see, the data gives us some indication, but no absolute proof. If Reform wants to win, however, they need women. We make up 50% of the electorate after all, and every vote is needed if you want to be the leading party. The party may choose to adapt or to keep its current course. The question remains as to whether they can get female voters that way.
The true indicator? The way the ballots swing in 2029 (or earlier). That’s the only way to know.
