Deplatformed: Nigel Farage’s Reform Bans Byline Times from their Party Conference

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Byline Times is one of several media organizations that have been prohibited from participating in Reform UK's party conference taking place in Birmingham this weekend.

Although the registration was completed and a ticket for the conference was obtained on August 5, an email from the media office arrived on September 13, informing that the media pass had been revoked.

It mentioned: "We appreciate your interest in obtaining accreditation for our conference this year."

I regret to inform you that your request for accreditation to the Reform UK National Conference in Birmingham on September 20th and 21st has not been approved. Best regards, Reform UK Press Office.

Byline Times has provided in-depth coverage of Reform UK, highlighting that it is primarily owned by Nigel Farage as a limited company. This weekend, the party is expected to transition to a more conventional organizational structure, though some directors will still be selected from a list approved by Farage beforehand.

It successfully revoked – or removed – Byline Times' access to the platform:

Sam Bright, an investigative journalist at the climate-focused publication DeSmog, known for highlighting policies and remarks that deny climate science from members of Reform UK, expressed on X: “DeSmog has been banned as well. Likely because they fear we’ll uncover the facts about Farage and his group of climate skeptics. What a bunch of snowflakes.”

Femi Olowule, a writer and advocate for the European Union, expressed that he felt he was in "the same situation."

Observer reporter Carole Cadwalladr was also left out of the event.

On X, Farrukh from the ImplausibleBlog commented, "It’s a form of free speech, but not in the way we typically understand it." Chris Miller referred to it as "a two-tier system for the media. Who would have expected that?" Meanwhile, Farage and Reform UK argued that there was a 'two-tier policing' strategy in response to the racist riots that occurred in late July and early August.

Some argued that Farage was "afraid of open discussion" by shutting down critical media sources.

“It’s great to see you’ve hit a nerve with them. Their stance on free speech isn’t quite what it seems…” someone else remarked. Meanwhile, on Threads, another user noted: “Think of it as a badge of honor; if you’ve upset that bunch, you must be on the right track.”

Recently, leader Nigel Farage referred to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the “biggest danger to free speech in the history of Britain” in light of how the Prime Minister dealt with the racist riots.

The leader of Reform UK has criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly attempting to exploit the recent far-Right riots as a means to limit civil liberties. Interestingly, Nigel Farage has not voiced any opposition to the numerous anti-protest laws enacted by the Conservative government.

Nigel Farage's claim of defending free speech arose after violent outbreaks in England, which some accused him of provoking (he has denied these claims). After the tragic murders in Southport in July, Farage shared a video in which he wondered "if the truth is being kept from us," appearing to address the false information spreading about the ethnicity of the suspected murderer.

Lee Anderson MP, the chief whip of Reform UK, spoke in defense of the rioters from this summer, saying: "These young guys, who may have had a bit too much to drink, got mixed up with the wrong people and started throwing stones and causing damage. They aren't extremist thugs; they're just young people who got swept up in the moment."

Reform UK started a campaign criticizing what they claim is a 'two-tier policing' approach towards the rioters, in contrast to how Black Lives Matter protests were policed. The BLM demonstrations in the UK did not result in nearly as much destruction and violence as the recent racist riots that took place this summer.

In June of the previous year, Farage sparked a significant uproar by claiming that he had been "debanked" by the prestigious financial institution Coutts. This statement led to a media storm, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Dame Alison Rose, the CEO of NatWest, the parent company of Coutts.

Protests Expected At Reform UK Conference

Activists from Stand Up to Racism are gearing up to demonstrate at the Reform UK conference taking place in Birmingham this Friday.

This comes after the Brum Climate Justice Coalition staged a banner drop event close to the location.

Stand Up to Racism is urging trade unions, community groups, the Palestine and climate movements, as well as anyone opposed to racism and division, to participate in a protest outside the Reform UK conference at Birmingham's NEC. The demonstration is set for 5 PM on Friday.

A representative from the group stated, “The views of Reform are discriminatory and create division. Reform UK is not just against immigration; they also stand against multiculturalism and the rights of transgender individuals.”

Reform UK asserts that "historic levels of immigration have harmed our nation" and that "the issue of small boats poses a risk to our safety." They advocate for halting what they refer to as non-urgent immigration.

A representative from Stand Up to Racism stated, “This is a clear case of unfairly blaming migrants, which has fueled hostility towards hotels that shelter asylum seekers. It's inappropriate to hold migrants responsible for housing shortages or to label them as criminals. This kind of thinking is a clear reflection of far-right ideology and needs to be confronted without hesitation.”

Reform UK argues that multiculturalism has brought in distinct communities that do not embrace our lifestyle. In response, Stand Up to Racism describes this viewpoint as blatant racism that contributes to the riots witnessed in our cities last August.

We describe Britain as a country rich in ethnic and cultural diversity, and we believe this is something to celebrate. We reject the idea of isolated communities.

"The recent counter-protests in response to the far-right riots demonstrate our unity as a community. We will stand together and support one another in the face of attempts by racists to create division. We refuse to accept this," the group stated.

A Stand Up to Racism demonstration is scheduled for Friday, September 20, at the Birmingham NEC, starting at 5 PM, coinciding with the Reform UK conference.

Josiah Mortimer contributes to the "On the Ground" column, which can only be found in the printed version of Byline Times.

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