Nigel Farage has pledged to steer Reform UK towards a more professional future, distancing the party from extremism and bigotry. Speaking at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham, Farage highlighted the party’s evolution after winning its first MPs in July, noting that while the party represented the “silent majority,” past “amateurism” had hindered greater success.
Acknowledging controversies over poorly vetted candidates in the general election, Farage emphasized that Reform UK would now rigorously vet future candidates to avoid further missteps. He stated, “We don’t want extremists, we don’t want bigots,” affirming that the party aims to represent the “silent, decent majority” of the country.
Farage announced a major overhaul of party structures, with an emphasis on winning local elections to build national momentum. He expressed hopes to secure “hundreds” of council seats in May’s local elections, modeling their strategy after the Liberal Democrats. He also revealed plans to relinquish ownership of the party, which was initially set up as a private company to prevent infiltration by extremist groups.
With around 4,000 activists attending the conference, Farage addressed the crowd with optimism, claiming that Reform UK was “coming of age” and moving towards a more mature, structured future. He stressed that “bad apples” among their candidates had hurt the party in the past but promised a more democratic process moving forward, with local branches selecting their own candidates and contributing to policy discussions.
As the party gears up for the next phase, Farage’s vision is to continue positioning Reform UK as a permanent fixture in British politics, focusing on issues like reducing immigration, tough crime policies, and tax cuts, while distancing itself from controversial elements.