A mother who describes herself as 'proudly British' has announced her intention to leave the United Kingdom by the end of the year, citing concerns over what she perceives as a rise in racism following early successes by Reform UK in local elections.
Mother's Decision to Leave
Beth Ware, a 28-year-old mindset coach from Kent, says she does not want her two mixed-race children to grow up in an 'environment that promotes so much hatred.' She has begun liquidating her assets and is contacting hotels and resorts in Bali, Indonesia, seeking employment.
'The UK is becoming racist,' Ware stated. 'I know that racism has been around for a very long time in the UK, and I feel so sorry for people who have experienced it more under the radar, but now it's a lot more out in the open and people are feeling ok to make these kinds of comments.'
Ware specifically pointed to local social media posts she has seen in her area, which she says include warnings about 'mixing of breeding' and 'mixing ethnicities,' as well as concerns that white British people 'soon won't be white.'
Concerns Over Reform UK Policies
The mother's decision comes as votes are being counted in local, Scottish, and Welsh elections, with Labour expected to suffer significant losses and Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, poised to gain ground. Ware expressed alarm not only at Reform's immigration policies but also at comments made by former Reform candidate Matt Goodwin, who advocated for a 'negative child benefit tax' on adults without children. Although this is not official Reform policy, it sparked controversy during his by-election campaign in Gorton and Denton earlier this year.
Additionally, Reform UK has proposed scrapping the Equality Act and reinstating the two-child benefit cap. Ware also criticized the party's reported interest in encouraging girls to have children at a young age, likening it to Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel 'The Handmaid's Tale.'
'One thing is the racism that Reform is promoting, but the other thing is that they are looking to start teaching girls at a young age the importance of having children early,' she said. 'That's so scary to me, that's giving The Handmaid's Tale, the fact that they are looking at taxing women more who don't have children.'
Broader Context
Ware acknowledges that racism exists everywhere and that she cannot 'bubble wrap' her children, but she hopes to leave before the situation deteriorates further, possibly resembling the United States. She emphasized her pride in being British, noting her family's long history in the country, but feels that the Union Jack is being 'used as a weapon.'
Reform UK has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
