Russell Tovey urges LGBTQ+ community to brace for potential Reform UK government
– 2 min read
Actor Russell Tovey has issued a stark warning to the LGBTQ+ community, urging them to “prepare ourselves” for the possibility of a Reform UK government, as the right-wing party led by Nigel Farage gains traction in national polls.
Speaking in an interview with Attitude magazine following his recognition as “Man of the Year” at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, Tovey reflected on the political climate and the potential rollback of civil liberties. “In the late ’80s, there was Section 28, homophobia in all the red top newspapers, horrific politics - 30 years later, we’re now in this cyclical moment politically where people’s liberties are being reversed,” he said.
Tovey, 43, known for roles in The History Boys, Looking, and Years and Years, emphasised the need for vigilance and unity within the queer community. “We have to get into a position where we’re ready to go from day one when that happens, so that as soon as they’re in, we’re ready to fight back,” he stated.
His comments come amid growing concern over Reform UK’s rise, with the party reportedly polling ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives. Tovey described the situation as “the hard bit,” adding, “It feels like Reform are getting in, and we can’t keep hiding our heads under the covers. Reform will be running this country. I mean, I hope I’m wrong. I do, but I don’t think I am”.
We must be united to stand against all that is being thrown against us
The actor also used his platform to call for stronger intra-community support, saying queer people must be better allies to one another. “We alienate our own, and we turn against ourselves. But we need to kick outwards. We must be united to stand against all that is being thrown against us,” he said during his acceptance speech.
Tovey’s remarks were made in the context of his latest film Plainclothes, which explores the entrapment of gay men by undercover police in the 1990s. He spoke candidly about his own struggles with shame and identity during that era, saying, “I remember a shame I felt growing up knowing I was gay but desperately not wanting to be, because society hadn’t created a safe space for that”.
The full interview with Russell Tovey appears in the November/December issue of Attitude magazine.
