Pride in Britain? Nigel Farage's attack on education exposes his agenda
As a YouGov poll showed only four in 10 young people are proud of their country, the Reform leader has attempted to blame the education system - in a mark of authoritarian regimes
A shock poll—if you can truly be shocked by something glaringly obvious and entirely predictable—made headlines yesterday: only four in ten young Britons say they are proud of their country.
The Times/YouGov study found that just 41 per cent of 18-27-year-olds feel pride in being British—less than half the figure recorded two decades ago. In 2004, 80 per cent of young people expressed national pride. The study, which examines Generation Z’s beliefs and values, describes a "deep erosion of faith in Britain" among young people.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage blames the "broken" education system: “I think the education system is wilfully poisoning the minds of all of our young people,” he said, “about who we are as a country, our history, what we stand for. The whole thing is an absolute disgrace."
Throughout history, attempts to undermine education and curb academic freedom have been a hallmark of authoritarian regimes. In the 1930s, the Nazi regime purged perceived enemies from the education system and mandated the teaching of Aryan supremacy, indoctrinating children with Nazi ideology.
In more recent times, far-right leaders have continued to use education as a tool for shaping national identity and political loyalty. In Hungary, Viktor Orbán imposed strict controls over academic freedom, closing independent institutions like the Central European University and limiting research that challenges his narrative. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen has called for rewriting France’s history curricula to promote “national pride,” an effort to reframe historical events with her political agenda.
Far-right movements see education as a battleground, where controlling the narrative is key to shaping the political loyalties and obedience of future generations. Now, Farage appears to be following this same playbook. In his view, the education system is a "sinister force" conspiring to erase British identity, positioning education as a threat rather than a tool for growth and critical thought.
In reality, the curriculum has evolved over the past two decades to promote critical thinking, diversify perspectives, and offer more personalised learning. While chronic underfunding and neglect, as well as opportunistic political attacks, have weakened the system, there is no question that access to education has been vital for social mobility, opportunity, skills and attainment in this country.
What Farage conveniently overlooks is the broader context of change that young people have experienced over the past two decades and how it shapes their view of the country. They’ve faced stagnant wages, an overheated housing market, and the growing financial insecurity of living in an economy where property ownership has become increasingly out of reach.
This has been compounded by a government that, despite historically low borrowing costs, failed to invest in infrastructure or build enough affordable housing. The austerity measures imposed over the years have resulted in the closure of youth clubs, deep cuts to public services, and the erosion of community spaces. Instead, these have been replaced by pricey cafés, overcrowded parks, and exorbitant entertainment costs— young people are being priced out of their own country.
Meanwhile, British politics has been a rolling disaster. The UK left the EU despite a generational divide, stripping young people of the right to study and travel freely across Europe. Since 2016, they have watched the economy decline, political chaos deepen, and cultural divisions widen.
Now, the far right is seizing on this discontent, exploiting the frustrations of both young people and reactionary older voters—many of whom are also disillusioned with a political class increasingly detached from reality.
So, is it any wonder that young people are no longer proud of Britain? A country in decline, repeatedly dubbed the "sick man of Europe”, where collapsing services mean more rubbish on the streets, rising antisocial behaviour, and deepening inequality. Farage’s scapegoating of education is more than just incoherent, it’s entirely dangerous.
If you were doubtful of Farage’s far-right political inclinations, just know this is a classic authoritarian tactic: dismantling the institutions that encourage independent thought and intellectual freedom. Instead, his party proposes a “patriotic curriculum”, teaching children about their “heritage”, banning elements of sex and relationship education and restricting the number of university undergraduate places— essentially reducing young people’s chances of accessing higher education.
For young people drawn to Reform UK, this should be a wake-up call. Farage has no interest in improving their material circumstances or addressing the struggles of a generation locked out of basic life milestones by a broken system. Instead, he sees their minds as the problem—preferring indoctrination over meaningful change.
If you needed any more proof that Reform UK is not a radical force that will improve the lot of those less fortunate, here it is. The party is an authoritarian, reactionary force that exists to protect the status quo, not fix it. Scholar and activist Angela Davis once said that “Education is the practice of freedom”. Don’t be fooled, our freedom is under threat.
At The Lead we keep a watching brief on the rise of the new far-right, and the populist movements of Reform too. Plus we offer solutions and commentary on Labour in government, see Zoe’s writing on what Labour needs to do in 2025 and also how Labour need to take back control when it comes to immigration.