A controversy has erupted following comments made by the Conservative Party chairman likening Nigel Farage’s Reform party to the Nazis.
Kevin Hollinrake posted an image of a Swastika badge in response to a post by the Reform chief. Although he swiftly removed the post, he later reinforced his stance by sharing a link to a webpage about the badge.
Hollinrake, who has been in his party role since July, shared a picture of a badge given to the first 100,000 members of Adolf Hitler’s party in 1933. This action was triggered by Farage’s post stating “coming soon” along with a gold Reform logo.
Despite deleting the image, Hollinrake proceeded to post a link to the Wikipedia page discussing the badge, accompanied by an “eyes” emoji. This controversial move provoked outrage within Reform circles.
In response, Farage remarked, “This is why they are on course to win 14 seats at the next election,” referencing leaked polling data from Tory headquarters projecting significant gains if a general election were held imminently.
Reform advisor Alan Mendoza, a recent defector from the Tories, criticized Hollinrake’s comparison as “disgraceful, lazy, and weak.” Tory MP Suella Braverman condemned the comparison as “wrong, irresponsible, and highly counter-productive,” emphasizing that Hollinrake’s views did not align with her own.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented, “Kevin Hollinrake made a joke. Reform spends a significant amount of time online criticizing other politicians.” A Tory spokesperson highlighted Reform’s focus on social media activities rather than addressing issues such as the imprisonment of their Welsh leader for ties to Russia and their proposal to eliminate the two-child benefit cap.
A source from Reform expressed dismay, stating, “If you support Reform, the Conservative Party chairman believes you are a Nazi. The Tories continue to sink to new lows.”
Hollinrake shared a link to information about the Golden Party Badge, an award bestowed by Hitler to recognize early party members. Reform’s policy chief Zia Yusuf warned that Hollinrake’s actions could jeopardize the reelection prospects of other Tory members.
Yusuf added, “This will be widely publicized through leaflets and advertisements, ensuring every constituent knows: the Tories view Reform supporters as Nazis.”