The Case of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)

The populist radical right United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), despite having limited representation in government, has nevertheless had an enormous and disruptive impact on the politics and policy agenda in the United Kingdom in recent years. Although established as a single-issue anti-EU party, over time UKIP has embraced a wider PRR platform that connects its Euroscepticism to anti-immigration and health policies. UKIP has employed welfare chauvinist narratives to elevate anxieties over “health tourism” and abuses of the national healthcare system by “outsiders”. This has placed pressure on mainstream parties to adopt aspects of its platform reflected for example in the adoption of Immigration Health Surcharges by the Conservative government. By coopting UKIP positions, the Conservatives have enabled PRR ideas to influence health policy in the UK. The ascent of Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader signals the continued sway of the PRR on British Health policy. The early response by Johnson’s government to the COVID-19 crisis, for instance, has raised concerns about the dangers that populism poses during a public health crisis. Ultimately, the PRR has reshaped British politics and has had a profound impact on UK health policy.