The crisis that Britain faces. As right-wing populism, once thought to have faded into the background, makes a sharp return.
Last year, the spread of misinformation surrounding the identity of the Southport attacker, Axel Rudakubana, highlighted to the British public how rapidly social media can fuel hate towards marginalised and vulnerable communities. Former police officer Mark Heath was the individual who repeatedly claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the individual responsible for the attacks was an asylum seeker named Ali Al Shakati. Despite the legal ramifications for Heath, he continues to use social media as a platform to discuss the divisive topics.
Whether it’s the LGBT+ community, Islam, or national identity – Heath provides some provoking commentary…
Post from Mark Heath’s X page.
This year, not much has changed. Misinformation and the mobilisation of the media continue to feed the resurgence of the right-wing populists in Britain. Reform and fringe parties, such as Advance UK, have greatly benefited from the individuals championing their political ideals on social media platforms. Concerns regarding this resurgence extend further than parties’ electoral successes, but the nature of their commentary and rhetoric.
But as with any commentary comes the risk of misinformation, which more than 90% of the UK have reported witnessing online. With right-wing populist movements being disproportionately responsible for spreading misinformation and ‘fake news’ online. Misinformation can be a strategic tool, used to “energise and mobilise” radical political agendas and “[reinforce] existing beliefs, fears or resentments” (Tucker et al., 2018).
Agendas typically focused controlling the border, denying ‘woke’ ideologies and reasserting national identity.
A study from The Alan Turing Institute highlights that the lack of media literacy and growing distrust of legacy media are undoubtedly high, contributing to increased misinformation. The new energy behind the media-driven populist movement suggests that it is not just “the story of the summer,” but a potential glimpse into our political future.
Despite being a new party, Advance UK focuses on ‘celebrating the nation’s Christian constitution, roots, traditions, culture and values’. It aims to provide a stronger stance on immigration and the ‘rate of demographic changes’ compared to the Reform Party. Their support from one of Britain’s most prominent far-right activists, Tommy Robinson (born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), will inevitably aid their development as a new party and tie them into the greater issue of misinformation.
Robinson’s acts of misinforming fuel the growing anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. Following the murder of three girls in Southport, Robinson was guilty of weaponising his platform to circulate Islamophobic language and misinformation surrounding the tragedy.
Regionally focused groups such as The Sussex Patriots trail behind the principles of Tommy Robinson, and his right-wing agenda to ‘Unite the Kingdom’, having attended his rally in London in September. The organisation claims to inspire ‘love of country’. Participating in ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ (ORTC); hanging St. George and Union Jack flags across the Brighton and Newhaven. The lack of media literacy amongst their membership, further limits the claim of ‘innocent patriotism’, and unravels the anti-immigration narrative that is synonymous with right-wing movements.
Nigel Farage’s Reform Party stands vital to the resurgence of the Right. Farage’s role as broadcaster, pundit, and digital personality has caught the attention of the public. New platforms alike have amplified the political shift and put Reform on the map. From GB News and TikTok to viral clips engineered for Twitter/X, the Right has learned to use media not only to broadcast but to dominate. Having made substantial gains in recent local elections, the Reform Party is no longer an awkward presence on the sidelines; it is a fixture in Britain’s media landscape.
The growing media presence of Britain’s right-wing organisations is a concern, as misinformation has proved to be one of their most effective tools. It can be wielded by anyone, of course, but right now it is the populist Right that is gaining the most from its spread.
The danger is clear: when truth becomes optional, public trust collapses. From conspiracy theories about migrants to misinformation after tragedies like Southport, the cost is not only measured in clicks and shares, but in the growing division across communities. Britain is now at risk of seeing its political future shaped less by facts than by fear.
The government’s Communications and Digital Committee has warned that failing to improve media literacy threatens democracy itself. Without stronger regulation and better education, the space for reasoned debate will only shrink further.
Our focus on the resurgence of right-wing populism should not be dedicated only to their rallies and culture wars. Attention must be paid to the erosion of trust towards legacy media and the dangers of misinformation.
