Yesterday Danny Kruger, arguably Reform UK's most cerebral MP posted on X that in office his party will legislate to remove operational independence from the police, by definition making the police directly under the control of elected politicians.
When we ask how authoritarianism can happen in democracies the answer is alway 'step by step'.
Authoritarianism doesn't happen overnight but gradually, and then quickly.
Legislating for the removal of operational independence is, undoubtedly, one step on the road.