Nigel Farage today promised to build an “election winning machine” when he arrived at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Setting his sights on “professionalising” his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labor in power at the 2029 general election.
He said the next few years could see a “seismic sea change” in British politics, although he admitted there was work to be done to overhaul the structures of the Reformation.
During this year’s general election campaign, Reforma was forced to drop a number of parliamentary candidates for offensive comments.
Mr Farage admitted that the racism row that has hit the party in recent months was “damaging the jobs of thousands of others”.
As he arrived at the Reform conference, held at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, Mr Farage said he was looking forward to drinking at the two-day event.
He later received a standing ovation as he entered the main conference room for a remix version of Rihanna’s Diamonds.
Nigel Farage today promised to build an “election winning machine” when he arrived at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
In his bid to “professionalise” his party, Farage has joined other senior figures in suggesting that Reform could replace Labor in power at the 2029 general election.
Mr Farage admitted that the racism row that has hit the party in recent months is “damaging the jobs of thousands of others”.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Farage outlined his efforts to “professionalise” the Reformation.
“It means eliminating candidates who are totally inappropriate and harm the work of thousands of others,” he said.
“Let’s face it, the last election many of those candidates had not been examined. What will change, what will change.
“It also means building a structure on the ground – it’s a mixture of professional help but, clearly, it’s the volunteer side in the end that will make it happen.
“What it’s about today is building branches, presenting 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 general election, Mr Farage added: “I think if there’s ever a seismic sea change in politics, it’s in the next few years.”
And asked if he could see himself becoming PM, he replied: “Me or someone else who is nicer.”
Mr Farage will deliver his main conference speech 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 spoke about 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 reformist MPs alongside me in 2029.
“Momentum is absolutely on our side. What we have achieved in such a short period of time is nothing short of extraordinary.
“Nigel, or as I should call the honorable members for Clacton, and Richard, the honorable members for Boston and Skegness, are the people who lead us into Downing Street.
“We will be ready to welcome Nigel Farage, not just as a member of Parliament, but as prime minister.”
Mr Farage became an MP for the eighth time in July when he was elected to represent Clacton in Parliament.
But the former UKIP leader has now found himself facing questions over his claim that he cannot carry out surgeries in person at his Essex headquarters due to security fears.
He said he had been advised not to hold physical meetings “old-fashioned” to address the concerns of locals in case they “walk 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 meeting in Birmingham
A man wearing Union Jack glasses and hat poses for a photo at the Reforma conference
A delegate was seen wearing a ‘God, guns and Trump’ hat at the Birmingham event
Lee Anderson (second from left), the leader of the Reform, is expected to aim for significant gains in the local elections next year and the victory of the general election in 2029 in his speech of conference
“Do I have an office in Clacton? Yes. Do they allow the public to walk through the door with their knives in their pockets? No, no, I don’t,” 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 that he should not carry out in-person surgeries in his constituency.
The sources said that neither would have advised any MP not to undergo surgery because this would interfere with their democratic duties, but instead would have offered security advice on how measures could be taken to ensure their safety.
There is no record of any such advice ever being given to Mr Farage.
As well as a speech by Mr Farage, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice, chairman Yousuf and MPs Anderson, Rupert Lowe and McMurdock were set to address the party’s two-day conference in Birmingham.
Mr. Anderson, the chief whip of the Reformation, is expected to aim for significant gains in next year’s local elections and victory in the general election 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 in the UK.
“We have to take this fight to Parliament so we can take back control of our country and in 2029 win the general election.”
Anderson was the first Reform MP to join 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 yesterday he announced he was changing the ownership structure so the party was owned by its members, saying: “I no longer need to control this party.”
