The inaugural Reform UK party conference, intended to project an image of a government-in-waiting, spectacularly veered off script this weekend. Held in a cavernous arena, the event was less a polished political launch and more a parade of deeply controversial and often bizarre statements from its parliamentary candidates, leaving even party leader Nigel Farage scrambling for control.
A Stage of Scandals and Outbursts
Here are the eight most shocking moments that defined a chaotic day for Nigel Farage's new movement.
1. The Call to 'Close the Mosques'
Prospective MP Ian Gribbin sparked immediate outrage by suggesting Britain would be in a "much better place" if it had adopted "Germany's approach to the whole situation in the 1930s" and suppressed Islam. He further stated that women were "the weaker sex" and that a female domestic abuse victim he knew had "enjoyed a good hiding." Despite the firestorm, Reform UK has merely "suspended" his candidacy.
2. Branding the NHS a 'Failure'
City of Chester candidate George Woodward launched a stunning tirade against the nation's most beloved institution, labelling the NHS a "monument to national failure" that should be replaced with an insurance-based system. This direct attack on the sacrosanct health service is a huge political gamble.
3. The 'Virtue Signalling' Cancer Patient
In a moment of breathtaking insensitivity, another candidate dismissed a narrative about a cancer patient struggling to see a GP as "virtue signalling." This dismissal of a very real and emotional public concern highlighted a stark lack of empathy on the conference stage.
4. Farage's Own 'Migrants' Slur
The leader himself set the tone, whipping the crowd into a frenzy by repeatedly referring to small boat arrivals as "migrants" instead of refugees or asylum seekers—a deliberate rhetorical choice designed to inflame and polarise.
5. The Bizarre 'Space Engineering' Solution
One candidate, perhaps missing the gravity of the event, used his platform to pitch a "space engineering" business idea to the audience, a moment of surreal commercial opportunism amidst a political conference.
6. The Unqualified 'Doctor' on the NHS
A man introduced as "Dr" was given a prime speaking slot to criticise the NHS, despite it later emerging he was not a medical doctor but held a PhD in a completely unrelated field, misleading the audience on his expertise.
7. The 'Let's Go to War' Chants
The crowd's mood turned feverish during a speech by ex-Labour MP George Galloway, who chanted "let's go to war" directed at the Conservative Party, with the audience enthusiastically echoing the belligerent call.
8. The 'Borrowing' from Oswald Mosley
Perhaps the most damning revelation was the accusation that large sections of the party's "contract" with the British public were lifted directly from the policies of 1930s fascist leader Oswald Mosley, raising serious questions about its ideological foundations.
A Party Facing a Credibility Crisis
While Nigel Farage remains a powerful orator, the conference exposed the profound lack of discipline and the extremist elements within his party's ranks. The event, meant to solidify Reform UK as a serious political force, instead showcased a circus of offensive gaffes, extreme views, and unprofessionalism that threatens to undermine its electoral ambitions long before polling day.
