In a scene more reminiscent of a U.S. campaign rally than a traditional British political gathering, Nigel Farage and Reform UK kicked off the annual party conference season on September 5, 2025, in Birmingham, England, riding a wave of momentum that has both supporters and critics abuzz. With turquoise banners, flashing lights, and even Trump-esque "Make Britain Great Again" caps dotting the crowd, the conference signaled a new era for the party once dismissed as a fringe player.
Farage, who rebranded his Brexit Party as Reform UK in 2021, addressed a packed National Exhibition Centre just hours after a political shake-up sent ripples through Westminster. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had resigned earlier that day over unpaid property tax on a new apartment, a move Farage seized on as evidence of growing instability within the Labour government. "We're about to witness a big rift in the Labour Party," Farage told the cheering crowd, as reported by BBC. "I think there's every chance now of a general election happening in 2027 and we must be ready for that moment."
With the next general election not due until 2029, Farage’s prediction of an earlier contest underscored his confidence—and perhaps, his ambition. The conference, which was moved up three hours in response to the day’s political drama, saw Farage doubling down on Reform’s core messages: radical change, a shake-up of the establishment, and an unapologetic focus on immigration. He declared, “The government machine needs shaking up and needs radical reform, and this party will do it,” according to AFP.
Farage’s speech was less about policy details and more about energizing his base. Still, he did not shy away from specifics. He promised to "set out some serious cuts to the welfare budget" in the near future and made bold claims: "If elected, we will stop the boats within two weeks, scrap harmful, wasteful net zero policies and make Britain safer with zero tolerance policing." He also revealed plans to meet with the Albanian Prime Minister to discuss migrant returns agreements, signaling a continued hard line on immigration.
Reform UK’s recent successes have given Farage plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The party has tripled its membership to nearly 240,000, won five parliamentary seats (though one MP was expelled over harassment claims), and seized control of 12 local authorities across England. The May 2025 local elections were a turning point, with Reform outperforming both Labour and the Conservatives in several key areas. As one new party member, Suzy Hall, told BBC, “There is such an air of movement. The air around the Conservatives is stale. The air around Labour is fetid. And this is fresh air.”
The conference itself was a spectacle. Thousands of delegates and hundreds of corporate lobbyists filled the venue, with big-name firms like Heathrow Airport and JCB taking prominent spots on the exhibition floor. According to former party spokesman Gawain Towler, the corporate turnout proved Reform was "no longer the pariah it once was." The party’s adopted turquoise color was everywhere, and the atmosphere was buoyed by a beats-laden soundtrack and a sense of occasion. Former Tory ministers Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg, both slated to speak, lent further political heft to the proceedings.
But perhaps the biggest headline-grabber was the defection of Nadine Dorries, a former minister in the previous Conservative government, who joined Reform UK on September 4, 2025. Dorries, who like Farage is a veteran of the reality show "I'm A Celebrity," was introduced on stage amid glitter cannons and raucous applause. "I feel for the first time in a number of years as though I'm at a conference and amongst people who share the same principles and values as I have always held," Dorries told the crowd, as reported by BBC.
Farage was quick to capitalize on the moment, announcing the creation of a new department within Reform UK to prepare for government, with former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf appointed as head of policy. “In order to get all these policies brought together under one roof—and it’s a massive workload—I’m going to ask Zia Yusuf, from this day, to be our head of policy to bring all of this together,” Farage said. He also promised, “Others with experience will come. Don’t worry about that, and we will open a department for preparing for government so that when we win, we can hit the ground running.”
Despite the optimism in Birmingham, not everyone was convinced. A Labour Party spokesperson dismissed Farage’s speech as "anger without answers," adding, "His answer to the charge that Reform is a one-man band was to unveil one of the faces of failure from the last Tory government, Nadine Dorries. Farage has proven again today that he is incapable of acting in the best interests of Britain."
Still, the Reform faithful were undeterred. Ethan Powell, another attendee, told BBC, “He brings hope to many of us. Loads of people are here because they love their country and they want to see a country that actually works.” The mood was buoyant, with many in the hall describing a desire for “seismic change.”
Farage’s connections to U.S. politics were on full display. Not only did he borrow the phrase “Let’s make Britain great again” from Donald Trump—a move he acknowledged with a wink to the audience—but he had also visited the Oval Office just days prior, posing for a photo with the American president after speaking at Congress about free speech in Britain. While some see this transatlantic link as energizing, others caution it could backfire. As Kings College London political scientist Anand Menon told AFP, “He doesn’t want to associate himself too closely” with Trump, who remains “very unpopular” in Britain.
Farage’s rise has been a long time coming. A former commodities trader and European parliamentarian, he finally won election to the UK parliament in July 2024 on his eighth attempt. Now, at 61, he stands at the helm of a party many see as the most significant right-wing challenge to the established order in decades. His agenda—mass deportations, ditching human rights treaties, and rolling back net zero commitments—has struck a chord with voters frustrated by years of Conservative rule and record-high immigration.
Yet, as Menon cautioned, “It’s a very long way away, but it’s certainly possible” that Farage could one day become prime minister. The real test, he argued, will be whether Reform can run a truly professional operation and convince skeptical voters of its competence. For now, though, the turquoise tide is rising, and Farage is determined to surf it all the way to Downing Street. As he concluded his speech, “All I can do is to promise you that I will give this everything. No one cares more about the state of this country than I do, and I’m determined to do something about it.”
With the conference season now underway, all eyes are on Reform UK—and on whether its brand of brash, populist politics will reshape Britain’s political landscape in the months and years to come.
