Zarah Sultana’s recent claims about Nigel Farage align with several historical traits of fascism, while Reform UK shares some—but not all—features of European populist movements.

Historical Definitions of Fascism

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian ideology that emerged in early 20th-century Europe. Its core traits include:

Dictatorial leadership: A single leader with unchecked power.
Militarism and nationalism: Emphasis on national strength and unity, often through force.
Suppression of opposition: Censorship, propaganda, and elimination of dissent.
Anti-democratic values: Rejection of liberal democracy and individual rights.
Corporatism: State control over economic sectors, often aligning business and government interests¹².

Sultana’s concerns—such as Farage’s stance on trade unions, minority rights, and the European Court of Human Rights—touch on several of these themes, especially authoritarianism and erosion of democratic safeguards.

Reform UK vs. European Populist Movements

Feature	Reform UK	European Populists (e.g., PVV, AfD, Lega)
Anti-immigration stance	Strong, especially against illegal immigration³	Strong, often more extreme (e.g., refugee bans)
Anti-EU sentiment	Core to its origin as the Brexit Party⁴	Common, with calls to leave or weaken EU ties
Climate policy	Opposes net-zero targets³	Mixed; some support green nationalism, others deny climate change
Cultural rhetoric	Critiques “woke” and DEI policies³	Often targets multiculturalism and liberal values
Electoral success	Gained local power in 2025⁵	Varies: some govern (Italy’s Lega), others remain fringe

While Reform UK shares populist traits—anti-elite rhetoric, nationalism, and cultural conservatism—it hasn’t embraced full authoritarianism or militarism. Its rise reflects voter frustration with mainstream parties, similar to movements in the Netherlands and Germany⁶⁷.