"there is a strong upwards trend in support.”
Support for Reform UK among British Indians has tripled since the general election, according to a study.
Research by the 1928 Institute, a think tank led by Oxford academics specialising in the British Indian community, shows backing for Nigel Farage’s party has risen from 4% to 13% in the past year.
The findings, released to coincide with Diwali, suggest Reform is gaining momentum in sections of society where it has historically struggled.
The report said: “British Indian support for Reform is significantly lower than that of the general UK population.
“However, there is a strong upwards trend in support.”
British Indians make up around 3% of the UK population and are viewed as a key swing voting bloc. For decades, many aligned with Labour, which was perceived as more welcoming to immigrants in the 1960s and 1970s.
Those political ties have weakened as the community has become more established and its policy priorities have evolved.
Researchers suggest that social conservatism among Indian voters and growing Hindu nationalism have nudged some further right on the political spectrum.
A 2021 report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found Labour’s stance on Kashmiri independence under Jeremy Corbyn alienated some British Indian voters.
Farage has sent mixed signals on South Asian immigration. He criticised the government’s trade deal with India for easing worker entry from the subcontinent but said in 2015 that he preferred Indian and Australian migrants to those from eastern Europe.
The latest 1928 Institute report, which examines the demographics and political priorities of the Indian community, is based on responses from over 2,000 voters surveyed earlier in 2025.
Results were compared with last year’s voting patterns and a similar poll conducted five years ago.
At the last election, 48% of British Indians voted for Labour, 21% for the Conservatives and 4% for Reform. Five years earlier, Reform secured just 0.4% of the vote.
Today, Labour support among British Indians has dropped to 35%, while backing for the Conservatives has collapsed to 18%.
Support for the Greens has surged, particularly among younger voters, rising from 8% at the election to 13% now.
The data also reveals a shift in priorities.
Education remains the top concern, but the second priority has moved from health to the economy. Crime ranks third, up from fourth five years ago, while the environment has fallen down the list.
Equality and human rights have also slipped in importance, falling from fifth place to seventh.
Nikita Ved, a co-author of the report, said: “Reform UK’s rise is disrupting traditional voting patterns within the British Indian community.
“As economic and social frustrations deepen, both major parties may face growing pressure to engage more directly with a community whose political loyalties can no longer be taken for granted.”
Loading ...