Nigel Farage today vowed to build an ‘election-winning machine’ as he arrived at Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham.
Setting out his aim to ‘professionalise’ his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labour in power at the 2029 general election.
He claimed the next few years could see a ‘seismic sea change’ in British politics although he admitted there was work to be done to overhaul Reform’s structures.
During this year’s general election campaign, Reform were forced to ditch a number of parliamentary candidates over offensive comments.
Mr Farage admitted the racism rows that hit the party in recent months ‘damage the work of thousands of others’.
As he arrived at Reform’s conference, being held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, Mr Farage said he was looking forward to having a drink at the two-day event.
He later received a standing ovation as he entered the main conference hall to a remix version of Diamonds by Rihanna.
Nigel Farage today vowed to build an ‘election-winning machine’ as he arrived at Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham
Setting out his aim to ‘professionalise’ his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labour in power at the 2029 general election
Mr Farage admitted the racism rows that hit the party in recent months ‘damage the work of thousands of others
Speaking to reporters, Mr Farage set out his efforts to ‘professionalise’ Reform.
‘It means weeding out candidates that are totally inappropriate and damage the work of thousands of others,’ he said.
‘Let’s face it, the last election a lot of those candidates hadn’t been vetted at all. That has to change, that will change.
‘It also means building a structure on the ground – that’s a mixture of professional help but, clearly, it’s the voluntary side in the end that will make it happen.
‘What today is about is building branches, fielding candidates, fighting the county elections next year, it’s about building an election-winning machine.
‘The Lib Dems have done it in parts of the country and that’s what we have to do.’
On Reform’s chances of winning the next general election, Mr Farage added: ‘I think if ever there’s going to be a seismic sea change in politics, it’s in the next few years.’
And asked if that could seen him become PM, he replied: ‘Me or somebody other who is better looking.’
Mr Farage was set to use his keynote conference address on Friday afternoon to issue a ‘clarion call for change’.
Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, MPs James McMurdock and Lee Anderson, and immigration spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe all talked up their party’s chances of winning the next general election.
Mr McMurdock, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, told party activists from the conference stage: ‘There are people in this very room who will be Reform MPs alongside me in 2029.
‘The momentum is absolutely on our side. What we have achieved in such a short period of time is nothing less than extraordinary.
‘Nigel, or as I should call him the Honourable Member for Clacton, and Richard, the Honourable Member for Boston and Skegness, are the people to lead us into Downing Street.
‘We will then be ready to welcome Nigel Farage, not just as a member of Parliament, but as the prime minister’.
Mr Farage became an MP at the eighth time of asking in July as he was elected to represent Clacton in Parliament.
But the ex-UKIP leader has now found himself facing questions over his claim that he cannot hold in-person constituency surgeries in his Essex seat due to security fears.
He said he had been advised not to hold ‘old-style’ physical meetings to address locals’ issues in case they ‘flow through the door’ carrying blades ‘in their pockets’.
A conference attendee wears a T-shirt featuring Mr Farage on the opening day of the Reform gathering in Birmingham
A man dressed in Union Jack glasses and hat poses for a photo at the Reform conference
One delegate was spotted wearing a ‘God, Guns and Trump’ hat at the Birmingham event
Lee Anderson (second from left), Reform’s chief whip, is expected to target significant gains at next year’s local elections and general election victory in 2029 in his conference speech
‘Do I have an office in Clacton? Yes. Am I allowing the public to flow through the door with their knives in their pockets? No, no I’m not,’ Mr Farage told LBC radio.
But the Speaker’s Office and Parliament’s security team are understood to have no recollection of telling Mr Farage he should not hold in-person surgeries in his constituency.
Sources said neither would have advised any MP not to hold a surgery because this would interfere with their democratic duties, but would instead have offered security advice on how measures could be taken to ensure their safety.
There is no record of such advice ever having been given to Mr Farage.
As well as a speech by Mr Farage, Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice, chairman Mr Yousuf and MPs Mr Anderson, Rupert Lowe and Mr McMurdock were set to address the party’s two-day conference in Birmingham.
Mr Anderson, Reform’s chief whip, is expected to target significant gains at next year’s local elections and general election victory in 2029 in his conference speech this afternoon.
He will say: ‘We have five MPs and we are growing our membership and support every day. Next year we will win hundreds of council seats across the UK.
‘We must take this fight to Parliament so we can take back control of our country and in 2029 win the general election.’
Mr Anderson was Reform’s first MP after he joined the party in March following his suspension from the Conservatives over ‘Islamophobic’ comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The conference comes a day after Mr Farage announced he was giving up ownership of Reform UK.
Unlike other political parties, Reform is a limited company of which Mr Farage is the majority shareholder.
But he yesterday announced he was changing the ownership structure so the party was owned by its members, saying: ‘I no longer need to control this party.’