Is Nigel Farage being used as a pawn by US Christian extremists?

Read time: 4 mins

In brief…

• A New York Times investigation reveals Nigel Farage’s free speech address in Congress in September was orchestrated by hard-right Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
• Jane Bradley, one of the journalists who worked on the report, says it is using Farage – and free speech – as a Trojan horse to bring its anti-abortion influence to the UK, having previously contributed to overturning Roe v. Wade in America.
• Bradley tells The News Agents ADF has an uphill battle in the UK, but should not be underestimated.

What’s the story?

It was a curious sight to see Nigel Farage addressing Congress in September 2025, speaking for hours about the erosion of free speech in the UK  – but was it all part of a carefully orchestrated act?

A New York Times investigation suggests that Farage's high-profile visit to Washington DC was arranged by the Alliance Defending Freedom, (ADF), a hugely influential right-wing Christian group, which is anti-abortion, against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights, and opposes anti-discrimination laws.

ADF's influence was key in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, removing the automatic right to abortion for women across the US. It is supported by prominent MAGA politicians such as vice president JD Vance and house speaker Mike Johnson.

“​​The ADF were the ones who reached out to Farage's team, and asked if Farage wanted to give evidence,” Jane Bradley, one of the two journalists responsible for the New York Times investigation, tells the News Agents.

“They passed on his interest to the Republicans, who then sent the formal invitation.”

The paper claims Farage is being supported by the group to further its aims of bringing its conservative christian values to the UK, before pushing into Europe as well.

A spokesperson for ADF International has said it has "engaged" with every major political party in the UK – but Labour tells the New York Times it has no record of any contact with the group.

How the ADF is focusing on the UK

The ADF has made its greatest victory in the US with its push against abortion rights, but with abortion having overwhelming public support in the UK, those rights are more secure in this country.

Instead, Bradley says, they are focusing on infiltrating British politics through free speech, and using Farage as a conduit.

"They've been courting Reform behind closed doors," Bradley adds.

"We uncovered details on a string of meetings and briefings that the ADF had basically brokered between influential US officials and Farage and his Reform Party."

But that's not necessarily because the two groups are firmly aligned.

"They've chosen Farage to focus on, building up this ally who has the potential to be someone like a JD Vance figure in the future, because there's no one else who's a better fit," Bradley adds.

"Sources told me that lawyers for the ADF in the UK effectively said he's the best out of a bad bunch.

"They don't have the same prominent religious ally in the UK, as they do in the US so they're trying – through this free speech messaging – to find an ally on that level, who might also mention, I think, abortion every now and then."

Farage has said he wants public debate on whether the UK's 24-week abortion rule should continue.

Bradley adds that, for now, there is no evidence the ADF is actively funding Reform, but says the connection between the two is about "developing the relationships and influencing the network".

Will it work in the UK?

The big difference between US and UK politics is the influence of religion – and while the ADF has utilised this to achieve success in America, it is taking a different approach in its push to the UK.

"There's a danger in complacency," Bradley says.

"When we look at the early success that the ADF have had in the UK under free speech messaging, they have made some big inroads, and they are successfully framing the debate around abortion that makes it a free speech debate."

Some of those convicted for breaking laws around silent protest close to abortion clinics have vowed to continue to exercise their “free speech” on the matter.

The ADF, she adds, is playing the long game.

"We saw in the US that they think in these long, incremental, 50 year stages, they're not thinking of their generation.

"We saw how they use the courts, public messaging, and friendly conservative judges to erode abortion rights in the US bit-by-bit. I think it'd be wrong to be complacent, but they do have an uphill battle."

Freedom of speech, she agrees, is a Trojan horse being used by the ADF against the rights of people in the UK.

"The ADF has said to me that it's as much a free speech organisation as a pro-choice one. I think that's very careful framing in the UK, because they know their audience, almost 90% of adults here support the right to abortion.

"It's definitely a winning topic, more than abortion, over here."

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