Nigel Farage, the 60-year-old self-proclaimed troublemaker, believes his Reform Party will unseat Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government in the next general election,
scheduled for 2029. Farage claims his party has already drawn significant support away from the once-dominant Conservatives in a recent vote.
"The silent majority is with us on the key issues we care about," Farage said. "We can win the next general election with the number of people who agree with our principles."
With right-wing parties gaining momentum across Europe, Reform has seen a surge in support. After winning 4.1 million votes (14% of the total) and securing five seats in parliament in the July election, the party’s membership has doubled, growing from 40,000 in early June to over 80,000. For comparison, the Labour Party has over 350,000 members.
At a packed conference in Birmingham, Farage was greeted by a crowd of around 4,000 enthusiastic supporters, mostly elderly and white, who chanted "Nigel" as he entered the hall.
Speaking to the energized crowd, Farage revealed that "one in four of those who voted Labour in the general election on July 4 are already inclined to vote for Reform UK."
Criticism of Labour Government
Farage and other Reform figures took aim at the Labour government, listing what they described as failures. These included cutting pensioners' fuel payments, releasing prisoners early, and making deals with trade unions, which they called Labour's "paymasters."
Labour, in response, has defended its actions as necessary measures to address the damage caused by the previous Conservative government. They blame the Conservatives for leaving a £22 billion gap in public finances and overcrowded prisons. Labour also highlights the wage agreements they’ve reached in sectors like health and transport to resolve industrial strikes that have affected the economy.
Farage, a divisive figure known for his role in the 2016 Brexit referendum, admitted that his party still has some work to do to become a more professional political force. Originally founded as the Brexit Party in 2018, the group was rebranded as Reform in 2021. Farage, the largest shareholder, announced changes to make the party owned by its members and run as a not-for-profit organization with a new constitution.
Reform officials are now focusing on mobilizing more grassroots campaigners ahead of local elections next year, with the goal of building a mass movement to challenge the mainstream political parties.
Immigration as a Key Issue
Immigration remains the central issue for Reform's campaign. The party criticizes both the former Conservative government and the current Labour government for their lack of a concrete plan to address the arrival of asylum seekers by boat. Reform promises to stop these boats in the English Channel and return them to France.
Reform’s stance on immigration, which includes advocating for strict adherence to British culture and traditions, has led to accusations of racism—a claim the party denies.
Farage emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline within the party, saying, "We can't let a few extremists ruin the work of a party with 80,000 members, growing by the hundreds every day. We represent the silent, decent majority of this great country." Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.