Motherland: how Farage is winning over women

On a recent stop in the Midlands, Nigel Farage batted away a question about whether his party struggles with women. It was classic Farage—irreverent, self-deprecating, and a reminder that his causes have often resonated more with men. Yet after years of that gender gap, there are signs it’s narrowing fast.

The gender tide turns

Since May’s local elections—where Reform UK made striking gains—women’s support has shifted in unexpected ways. Recent polling indicates that Reform’s share among women has risen sharply since the general election, with Labour slipping by a comparable margin. The swing is most dramatic among women aged over 45, especially Generation X and Baby Boomers, where Reform now tops or seriously challenges for the lead. Even among younger women, Reform sits in second place behind Labour, with a gap that is slimmer than many anticipated.

Why women are drifting

Conversations with women in midlife and beyond point to a mix of economic strain and disillusionment. Many report that what should be their most financially secure years are instead defined by tightening budgets and a double load of care: supporting ageing parents while adult children struggle to leave home. The mood is downbeat. A significant share of women say the country is on the wrong track and describe themselves as stressed, worried and exhausted—more so, on average, than men of the same age. As faith in a promised “change” fades, some are turning to a party they feel speaks more bluntly to decline and insecurity.

New faces, different tone

Another factor: visibility. A growing cohort of prominent women has migrated into Reform’s orbit—former Conservatives, local leaders and legal professionals—altering an image once mocked as a “boys’ club.” At crime-focused campaign launches and community events, women are standing alongside Farage, presenting a broader face of the movement and feeding speculation about future high-profile candidacies.

Migration and neighborhood anxiety

A major driver of the switch is migration policy, particularly the use of hotels and Houses in Multiple Occupation to accommodate people seeking asylum. Farage’s team picked up a notable shift on doorsteps: women, including older voters and mothers of teens, voicing concern about the sudden placement of large groups within residential streets. In multiple towns, women have taken a lead in protests, arguing that decision-making has sidelined local consent and safety worries.

Polling bears out the turn in mood. Support among women for hosting temporary asylum accommodation in their own communities has dropped markedly over the years. Many women, particularly older cohorts, now believe the system prioritizes newcomers over citizens. While most people still reject violence, a small but growing minority across the electorate tells pollsters that aggressive tactics in protests might be justified—an alarming sign of how normalized confrontation has become.

It’s important to stress that many incidents cited in local campaigns remain allegations, and communities are divided over the facts. But the perception of risk is real—and powerful—and Reform has become the vehicle through which that unease is being voiced.

Pride, culture and permission to speak

Moments of uncomplicated national pride have also mattered. After recent successes in women’s football, several players spoke openly about English identity. That tone—straightforward, patriotic without apology—contrasted with the more cautious posture often associated with men’s sport and public life. For some female voters, it signaled that it’s acceptable to talk plainly about nation, belonging and safety. Reform has been quick to inhabit that conversational space.

Where Reform still hits resistance

• Concerns about Farage’s proximity to Donald Trump remain a major barrier for many women.
• Uncertainty over the party’s approach to Ukraine raises doubts.
• Energy policy is another sticking point: proposals perceived as pushing up the cost of renewables land badly with voters—especially women—who want affordable, clean power and energy security.

How rivals are reacting

The Conservatives are sharpening their pitch on single-sex spaces and broader definitions of women’s rights, seeking clear lines of distinction. Labour, meanwhile, is working on expanded childcare support and an economic reset designed to lift the national mood from managed decline to renewal. Plans under discussion include accelerated building and planning reform, plus a more ambitious autumn Budget to tackle structural bottlenecks. The message being refined for conference season is simple: practical competence, faster delivery and a more optimistic story about what Britain can look like in a few years’ time.

Farage’s calculus—and the road to 2029

Farage insists he won’t chase demographics with token offers, but he acknowledges that a growing female constituency will expect distinct answers on issues from safety to the cost of living. His core case is unchanged: the established parties have failed, and only Reform is willing to admit the scale of the problem and push through disruptive fixes.

If, by the next general election, a critical mass of women believe that claim—especially those managing the financial, cultural and caregiving pressures of midlife—the political balance could shift again. What began as a counterintuitive realignment may become a decisive one. And if that happens, Britain’s major parties won’t just have a “women problem” or a “men problem.” They’ll have a voter problem—one that cuts across age and gender, rooted in a demand for safety, competence and a cost base that feels livable again.