Nigel Farage concluded Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham with a plea for party unity, following controversy over his rowed-back pledge to stop small boat crossings within two weeks of taking office. The event, larger than previous years, aimed to project a more professional image but was overshadowed by appearances from a vaccine-sceptic cardiologist and Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers.
In his closing speech, Farage urged attendees to stand as Reform candidates in upcoming elections, stressing the need for discipline. “Can we please exercise discipline and air our disagreements between each other in private and not in public?” he said, days after telling the BBC his policy would halt small boat arrivals within a fortnight of entering Downing Street, citing Australian-style laws.
The conference also saw former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg in attendance. Sir Jacob confirmed his daughter had joined Reform UK but said he would not follow. Meanwhile, attendees passed motions calling for a review of asylum approvals, repeal of the 2008 Climate Change Act, and removal of “gender ideology from public organisations”.
