A political firestorm is intensifying in the United Kingdom after a candidate for Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party suggested several prominent minority ethnic politicians harbour their primary loyalties outside of Britain. The remarks have drawn sharp condemnation and placed a spotlight on the charged rhetoric surrounding immigration and national identity in Western politics.

The controversy centres on Chris Parry, a retired naval rear admiral, who was selected to run for mayor of Hampshire and the Solent. Parry first drew criticism for comments aimed at Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, a senior Labour Party MP of Guyanese heritage, allegedly stating Lammy should “go home to the Caribbean where his loyalty lies.” Farage's party has yet to condemn the statement.

Now, further comments have surfaced in which Parry appears to question the allegiance of other politicians. This pattern of remarks is forcing a national conversation on what it means to be British today and why these questions of loyalty seem reserved for citizens of colour.

A Pattern of Questioning

The accusations from Parry, a decorated military veteran, were not limited to a single incident. Recent social media posts show him targeting other senior political figures from minority backgrounds:

• Anas Sarwar: In response to footage of the Scottish Labour leader at an event celebrating Pakistan's independence, Parry wrote, “So many people in @UKLabour don’t owe their primary loyalty to Britain.”
• Naz Shah: Commenting on the Labour MP taking her parliamentary oath on the Qur’an, he suggested it was acceptable only if she did not betray the British people by “demonstrating primary loyalty to another country.”

The opposition Labour Party has demanded swift action from Reform UK, arguing the comments are dragging the party “further into the gutter.” Reform UK, which was co-founded by Farage as the Brexit Party, has gained significant political ground by campaigning on a platform of drastically reducing immigration and rejecting what it calls “‘woke’ ideology.”

The Kenyan Lens: Old Tactics, New Arena

For many Kenyans, this political language from the UK is disturbingly familiar. The tactic of questioning a person's loyalty or “true belonging” based on their ethnic background has been a recurring feature of our own political landscape. For decades, Kenyan political elites have exploited ethnic diversity for personal gain, framing electoral contests as battles between tribes rather than ideas.

This rhetoric of “us versus them” serves to sideline communities and individuals, creating a political culture where allegiance to a tribe is often presented as being in conflict with loyalty to the nation. The events in the UK are a stark reminder that these divisive tools are not unique to any one country but are a common strategy in the playbook of populist politics globally.

The controversy surrounding Chris Parry and Reform UK is therefore more than just a distant headline. It is a case study in how questions of race, identity, and national allegiance can be weaponised in the political arena, an issue that continues to shape Kenya's own journey toward a more unified and inclusive democracy.