Reform UK Rally Energises New Members with Trump-Style Event

Beneath a giant Union Jack flag, Nigel Farage was greeted with cheers as he arrived at Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham on Friday. With a quick wave to the crowd, the party leader disappeared behind a bus bearing the party’s core messages: “Slash immigration. Lower the cost of living. Increase wages.”

The event's atmosphere, complete with rock-and-roll entrance music and “Let’s Make Britain Great” baseball caps, echoed the style of a Donald Trump rally.

Much of the rhetoric mirrored this tone. Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe declared, “We must control our borders,” adding that if the government fails, “Nigel Farage will do it when he enters 10 Downing Street.” The audience responded enthusiastically, cheering and jeering at mentions of Labour or Conservative politicians.

With 4,000 activists expected, this conference is a key moment for the party, marking its first since winning five MPs in July’s general election and establishing a presence in Parliament. It also celebrates these new MPs while attracting fresh members, many of whom have joined since Farage’s return as leader during the election campaign.

One insider admitted uncertainty about how many would attend, but the party now claims 80,000 members. Attendees included Lee and Kenneth Frost, a father and son from Kent, who joined last week. “The Conservatives didn’t deliver,” Lee Frost said, adding, “I’d rather give Reform a chance.”

Anita Tolgyesi Stanley, disillusioned with local politics in Wolverhampton, joined the party weeks ago and is considering standing as a councillor in next year’s local elections. She attended the conference to explore training opportunities.

These new recruits offer a glimpse into the growing interest in Reform UK as the party seeks to build a dedicated activist base and professionalise its operations. The £25 membership fee will help it compete with political rivals and expand its reach. The groundwork for this effort begins in Birmingham.