Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, found himself at the center of political controversy this weekend after making, and then quickly revising, a bold pledge regarding the ongoing migrant crossings in the English Channel. The party's annual conference, held in Birmingham from September 5 to 6, 2025, was meant to project a sense of unity and professionalism as Reform UK set its sights on the coming wave of elections in Wales, Scotland, London, and the Midlands. Instead, it became a showcase of shifting promises, heated debates, and a few unexpected appearances that left both supporters and critics with plenty to talk about.
On Friday, September 5, Farage electrified attendees at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) by vowing to halt small boat migrant crossings within two weeks of taking office if his party were to win a general election. According to The Independent, Farage declared, "You cannot come here illegally and stay – we will stop the boats within two weeks of winning government." This bold announcement was one of the standout moments of his keynote speech, signaling Reform UK's determination to distinguish itself from the Conservative and Labour parties on immigration and border security.
But by Saturday, the tone had shifted. In interviews with both the BBC and Sky News, Farage clarified that the two-week promise would only be possible after new laws were passed. He explained, "As soon as the law is in place. As soon as you have the ability to detain and deport, you'll stop it in two weeks." This admission, reported by BBC and The Telegraph, marked a significant retreat from his initial pledge. Farage drew inspiration from the policies of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had implemented tough measures to stem arrivals from Indonesia, but even he acknowledged that such legal changes in the UK could take months, if not longer.
The proposed legislation, dubbed the Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Bill, would, according to Reform UK, create a legal duty for the home secretary to remove illegal migrants and bar anyone deported from re-entering the UK for life. The bill would also "disapply" international treaties such as the Refugee Convention, a 1951 agreement that prevents countries from returning refugees to places where they might face danger. Farage emphasized, "We will stop the boats and we will detain and deport those who illegally break into our country. This is what nearly every normal country around the rest of the world does." (BBC)
Reform UK's broader platform on immigration includes plans to deport 600,000 migrants over five years and to bar anyone arriving on small boats from claiming asylum. The party has also floated the idea of providing £2 billion in payments or aid to countries like Afghanistan to encourage them to take back migrants. However, the legal and logistical hurdles for such sweeping changes are considerable, especially as Reform UK has proposed quitting the European Convention on Human Rights and repealing the Human Rights Act—moves that could take over a year to implement, as The Independent noted.
Farage's shifting position on the two-week pledge was not the only source of confusion. He also faced questions about whether women and children would be included in mass deportations. On the second day of the conference, he confirmed to Sky News that female asylum seekers could be deported back to the Taliban in Afghanistan, stating, "Yes," when asked directly. However, he added that the UK would have a "duty of care" if a four-year-old arrived in a dinghy, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the specifics of the party's policy.
The conference itself was marked by a mix of optimism and controversy. Farage ended the event with a call for party unity and discipline, urging members to keep internal disputes private as they prepared for the 2026 elections. "My sort of big message at the end of this conference, as we head towards those massive elections... is that you are the people's army and to succeed, it needs one thing: discipline. Can we please exercise discipline and air our disagreements between each other in private and not in public?" he implored, according to The Telegraph.
Yet, the conference stage also featured appearances that drew criticism. A vaccine-sceptic cardiologist and Lucy Connolly—who was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers—both addressed the gathering. Connolly, in a live recording of The Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast, described her time in prison as a learning experience and said, "Never in a million years did I ever think I was going to end up in prison. And it's not funny, but as I said earlier, if you didn't laugh, you'd cry... I really hope that I can change some things having come from there. Because it really is such a broken system, the whole system just needs completely reforming."
The party also welcomed support from some high-profile former Conservatives. Ann Widdecombe, a former Home Office minister and Brexit Party MEP, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, once Boris Johnson's Commons leader, were seen at the NEC. Rees-Mogg noted that while his daughter had joined Reform UK, he himself would not be following suit.
Policy motions passed at the conference included a call for a review of asylum approvals made by previous Labour and Conservative governments, a repeal of the 2008 Climate Change Act, and the removal of "gender ideology from public organisations." These proposals, pushed by local party figures such as Lancashire County Council deputy leader Simon Evans and Nottinghamshire county councillor Kelvin Wright, signaled Reform UK's intention to challenge the status quo on multiple fronts.
Other speakers addressed issues ranging from policing to welfare reform. Reform's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, promised to combat "woke policing," while Lee Anderson, tasked with overhauling the party's benefits policy, insisted, "Benefits should be a safety net, not a career option. Work should always pay more than benefits, which is why Reform UK will overhaul our benefits system and reward our workers, not the shirkers."
Farage himself faced further scrutiny over personal matters. He admitted to mis-speaking about buying a house in Clacton, clarifying that his partner made the purchase and he owns none of it. "I should have said 'we'. All right? My partner bought it, so what? I own none of it. But I just happen to spend some time there," he told Sky News. When pressed about releasing his personal tax returns, Farage responded, "All my company returns of course are filed every year at Companies House and there for all to see. I haven't published my own personal tax returns. I personally think that's an intrusion too far. I don't believe it's necessary."
As the dust settles from the Birmingham conference, Reform UK finds itself both energized and challenged. The party has succeeded in drawing attention to its policies and ambitions, but questions remain about the feasibility of its promises and the clarity of its leadership's messaging. With major elections looming in 2026, the coming months will reveal whether Farage and his party can translate headline-grabbing pledges into political reality—or whether the turbulence on display in Birmingham is a sign of deeper divisions yet to be resolved.
