Daily Star reporter Sian Hewitt has described attending Reform UK's annual conference in Birmingham as a 'terrifying' experience, warning that the party's potential path to power should concern everyone. Writing in a first-person account, Hewitt said she 'came away terrified that these people could be in with even a sniff of any form of power'.
Hewitt spent three days at the conference, where the party set out its plan for its 'first 100 days' in government. She noted that while Nigel Farage is an 'excellent crowd speaker', the message he delivers is problematic. She observed that his supporters 'would forgive anything' and that there seemed to be 'almost no line too far' that Farage could cross.
Scandal and hypocrisy at the conference
Just 12 hours before the event opened, a scandal broke claiming the party had looked to accept illegal donations. However, Hewitt reported that hardly anyone she spoke to cared, with the general consensus being 'It's a sting' and 'It is entrapment, we didn't accept any money'.
The reporter highlighted an incident where Zia Yusuf told the crowds that Reform will meet children coming over on small boats with guns. She also described how a female protestor was 'grabbed by the throat and yanked by her hair' by Reform members after standing up to heckle Farage, who watched on making crude remarks.
Concerns over policies and democracy
Hewitt acknowledged that it is fair to have concerns about the state of the country, including debt, early release of prisoners, and uncontrolled mass immigration. However, she pointed out that between January 1 and September 5 2026, a total of 16,513 people crossed the English Channel by small boat, down by 43% on the same period the previous year.
The reporter also noted that Farage said he would flood the House of Lords with Reform fans, restrict the powers of the courts, and remove members of the Civil Service if they disagree with him. Hewitt concluded that should Reform get into power, 'the UK's democracy will take a massive hit' and that is 'simply a place we should all fear'.
