The tone is set as you enter the conference hall near Birmingham hosting the far-right Reform UK party’s annual conference on Friday 20 September. Keycards are issued by terminals for entering your surname. “You see how professional we have become.” says a member of the group parked at the entrance.
HE” professionalize »become a true “ ruling party » Winning the 2029 parliamentary elections is the priority, assured Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, in front of 4,000 enthusiastic delegates. This charismatic 60-year-old politician, former founder of the UKIP party (origin of Brexit), already sees himself in Downing Street after having succeeded in breaking the glass ceiling of the Westminster electoral system (first past the post, favouring centrist parties). He was elected as an MP in the parliamentary elections of 4 July, along with four other members of Reform UK.
“Building a winning machine”
“The cynics tell us that it is impossible to seize power, the same ones who told us that Brexit would not happen,” proclaims Zia Yusuf, the party’s president. “ We will gather an army of volunteers to build a winning machine.” adds this billionaire businessman. Nigel Farage is pleased that the party now has 80,000 members and 200 local units across the country. He It was created in 2019 But it vegetated until May, shortly before the July elections, when Nigel Farage decided to devote himself fully to it. Until then, he prioritized his career as a television presenter (on the conservative channel GB News) and devoted a lot of time to the campaign of Donald Trump, of whom he is an unconditional supporter.
“This country is sick, we need a strong leader like Nigel Farage” testifies Helena French, an activist from the Louth and Horncastle constituency (north-east England). “The UK Reform candidate in my constituency came second by just 5,000 votes, behind the Conservative candidate. [qui a gagné] “, “, adds the activist, all set to restart the campaign for the local elections in May 2025. Reform UK is also aiming for the renewals of the regional parliaments of Wales and Scotland in 2026, two nations of the United Kingdom where the party’s presence is almost non-existent.
Kevin and Susan Boucher, a Welsh activist couple, explain how they prepare for the selection of future candidates for the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament): hearings, background checks on candidates, etc. “Our candidates will have a good chance of getting into the Senedd, the vote will be partially proportional, and then people are fed up with the Labour Party, which has had a majority there for twenty-five years.” explains Kevin Boucher. “In Wales, nothing is going well, the educational level has dropped and the waiting times in hospital emergency services are enormous,” deplores Susan Boucher.
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