Reform UK has the opportunity to hit the reset button this weekend when it holds its annual conference in Birmingham, following a rocky few months for Nigel Farage's party.
A number of distractions throughout the summer have not helped the party maintain its top spot in the polls. The hounding of Mr Farage and members of his family over financial donations has been shameful and obsessional. Any sane mind should wait to see what the parliamentary standards commissioner has to say on the matter before passing judgement.
Clacton by-election and party competition
The seaside pantomime of the Clacton by-election was caused by Mr Farage's decision to quit as an MP to get a fresh mandate from local voters in the face of the allegations surrounding financial donations. While the objective might have been sound, other political parties decided to show their contempt for local voters by not fielding candidates, which strengthened the narrative that the Westminster club are all too happy to close ranks for pathetic point scoring.
This decision demonstrated how little some political parties value the electorate and at a stroke removed the choice from voters who might have wanted to vote Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat or Green. Mr Farage was once again elected MP for Clacton despite much fawning online over a candidate of a bloke dressed as a bin.
Another thorn in the side of Reform UK is the increasing presence of Restore Britain, with research showing they could do considerable damage to the party in key constituencies at a general election. Rupert Lowe, their leader and only MP, is an engaging and forthright man, though the question remains as to whether this former Reform UK MP can get beyond being a one-man vendetta movement against his former boss. Mr Lowe should also consider the wrath of the British public should his party split the vote on the right of politics and result in another socialist government.
Conference speakers and announcements
The event will begin with a tribute to Ann Widdecombe, the Reform UK spokeswoman and former Daily Express columnist, whose brutal death in July shocked the country. Keynote speeches will come from Reform frontline MPs including Lee Anderson, Sarah Pochin, Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick and Richard Tice. Mr Tice knows how to whip up the crowd, and his speeches are often a conference highlight.
Other Reform stalwarts such as Laila Cunningham, Malcolm Offord, Matt Goodwin and Zia Yusuf are also set to take to the main stage. Nigel Farage will deliver his keynote speech on Friday afternoon and close the conference at the end of Saturday.
The party has a tremendous opportunity to reset and show voters that it is ready for government despite recent distractions. New spokespeople covering a variety of areas, chiefly defence and health, could be announced. Voters also need a sense of the work being done by MP Danny Kruger and James Orr regarding dealing with the nuts and bolts of power and reforming the civil service.
Reform Radio launch and local gains
Reform supporters will be delighted by the announcement of Reform Radio, due to launch on 5 November at reformradio.uk – a dedicated platform of news, debate and entertainment. The conference is also an opportunity to highlight new Reform names from the ranks of councillors gained in the last two years, including Linden Kemkaran, leader of Kent County Council, who has proved to be an excellent ambassador for Reform UK.
The atmosphere at the last conference was genuinely electrifying, though this year there needs to be a greater focus on substance and not just stunts. With a new Prime Minister who has yet to prove himself and a Conservative Party that this week will rejig its shadow cabinet, getting this week's conference right could see the party once again topping the polls with a chunky lead.
