Key facts
- Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is set to deliver a serious tone at the party's annual conference.
- The conference will feature "key pledges" for the first 100 days of a potential Farage premiership.
- Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally party, is scheduled to attend.
- Recent polling indicates a decline in Farage's favorability rating and public perception as a potential prime minister.
- Reform UK claims a stable polling base of around 20-21% despite recent scrutiny.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is preparing to shift the party's focus to a more serious political agenda at its upcoming annual conference in Birmingham. After a summer characterized by a by-election challenge from novelty candidate Count Binface and increased scrutiny over his finances, Farage aims to present Reform UK as a credible governing force.
The conference, expected to be the party's largest yet, will feature speeches from Farage and his top lieutenants, including Robert Jenrick, Zia Yusuf, and Richard Tice, who will unveil "key pledges" for the first 100 days of a potential Farage premiership. The party official emphasized a "very serious tone" for the event.
However, Reform UK has faced internal challenges, including public infighting and questions about undeclared donations, particularly a £5 million contribution from crypto-entrepreneur Christopher Harborne. Farage has maintained he has done nothing wrong, comparing his situation to that of Donald Trump. The scrutiny has also impacted Farage's personal approval ratings, with a recent YouGov survey showing a drop in favorability and public perception as a prime minister-in-waiting.
Adding to the international dimension, Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally party, is slated to be a key attraction at the conference, with both leaders bonding over issues like Channel crossings. Despite these efforts, the party's polling has reportedly slumped as Labour rebounds.
Internally, Reform UK is also contending with the emergence of a splinter group, Restore Britain, formed by former MP Rupert Lowe, which is seen as drawing support from the party's right flank. Disagreements within the party have also led to public reprimands and suspensions, including that of political commentator Tim Montgomerie.
Despite a summer of scrutiny, Reform officials express optimism about the party's core support, which they estimate to be around 20-21%, a noted increase over the past two years. The conference aims to consolidate this base while also appealing to a broader British electorate.