Reform members say they are not bothered by the fights
BBCEven by the standards of the Reform UK Party, these have been an interesting few weeks.
In December, its leader Nigel Farage traveled to Florida to meet multi-billionaire Elon Musk, where they discussed a possible donation.
On Boxing Day, it announced that its membership figures had overtaken the Conservatives. it was then a fight Discussed with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch whether those numbers were accurate.
In a post on his social media site X last Sunday, Musk unexpectedly Seen withdrawing support Faraz said he “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party.
And 10 Reform UK councilors in Derbyshire on Friday resigned from the partyIn opposition to Faraz’s leadership.
Reform UK members who gathered in the freezing cold on Friday evening at Sandown Racecourse for the party’s South East conference were not disappointed by the potential loss of a wealthy and influential supporter.
“I don’t like this Musk guy,” says Gloria Jane Martin.
She worked in cabin crew for British Airways until she reached the point where “I never wanted to meet passengers” and instead began investing in property and campaigning in politics.
“He (Musk) is dangling money. I worry that there will be some strings attached, that he will demand some policies.
“I think reform got away easily… Nigel has handled it diplomatically. I don’t think he can risk getting too close to Musk.
“He is destructive, he can destroy recovery.”
About 850 people were in attendance at Sandown, according to organisers, who say it was a sell-out event.
They include Howard Ward from Winchester, who switched from Conservative to Reform.
Like many people here, he is not worried about Musk. “Let her talk,” he says.
Kevin Burrell doesn’t think Musk is “being serious,” and even if he was, it wouldn’t matter. “We’ve got Candy…that’s going to work miracles.”
Nick Candy is the new treasurer of the party. He is a property tycoon, the husband of former pop singer Holly Valance and until recently was a donor to the Tories.
Beverley Newman is here with her partner Eve Wilkinson. He agreed that Kandy would be important but said the party could raise much more from membership.
“Musk won’t make any difference to his (Farage’s) popularity,” says Kirshanda, from West Sussex. “I thought he handled it beautifully. He wasn’t prepared to give in.”
Musk has not explained his reasoning, but Farage said the pair had a disagreement because Musk wanted Reform to “come out strongly in support” of Tommy Robinson.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
Former head of the far-right English Defense League accepted 2021 In court for breaching an injunction against repeating claims about a Syrian refugee schoolboy after losing a defamation case.
Farage left his former party UKIP in 2018 Saying Its association with Robinson had brought “mayhem” and “violence” to the party.
He has refused to allow Robinson to join Reform UK.
Party members at the Sandown event talk earnestly about electoral success, and while many express sympathy for Robinson, they understand why he may be politically unattainable.
Kevin Burrell says, “Whatever happens to Tommy, his heart is in the right place but the mainstream media will never forgive him.”
“As much as I admire what he’s doing, I can understand why Reform doesn’t support him.
“If you end up in a shambles over that, you’ll end up with the Tories or Labour.”
Jackie Collett says she does not know “what’s driving Nigel to wear high heels” but she also says Robinson is a “loose theory”.
She says she is a realist and admits that Reform could “disappear into the forest” but for now she says that “it’s the only party that gives me hope to go out in the morning”.
As the evening approached, news comes out About 10 Reform UK councilors in Derbyshire who resigned arguing that the party was being run in an “increasingly autocratic manner” and had “lost its sense of direction” since Farage took power.
Farage later told BBC Newsnight that the group was a “rogue wing” of the party that had not “passed scrutiny”.
The group’s leader, Councilor Alex Stevenson, who was suspended as a member in December, and who stood for Reform UK in Amber Valley in the general election, did not deny that he had campaigned for the local elections. Had fielded candidates, some of them were not with the party. Medical procedure.
There is no mention of resignations at conference, instead members are invited to cheer on two councilors moving from the Conservatives to Reform.
And there is little sign of public dissatisfaction with Faraz, although one member whispers his uneasiness.
“Faraz doesn’t have what it takes,” he says, speaking on condition of anonymity (“I don’t want to be kicked out”).
“He’s quite an egomaniac. Rupert Lowe would be my priority. He’s hard at work, asking questions in Parliament. Nigel isn’t around as much.”
Regarding Robinson he suggests that Farage “shouldn’t be so critical”.
Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, is not a household name, but it is a name that pops up throughout the evening.
Graham Croft-Smith expressed some disappointment that Lowe was not speaking at the event. “He is a true politician,” he says.
Lowe is not there but some other big names in the party are, including MP and party founder Richard Tice and president Zia Yusuf.
Youssef began his speech by welcoming “all you fake Reform members” – a reference to Kemi Badenoch. skepticism On membership number.
London Assembly member Alex Wilson asks how many in the audience spent Boxing Day watching the ticking clock at the party’s membership counter.
“Yes!’ yells a woman in the audience.
Last month, a digital tracker on Reform’s website showed its membership numbers had passed the Conservative-announced figure of 131,680 in 2024.
Reform UK was originally called the Brexit Party but makes only a few mentions of Brexit these days.
Big topics include opposition to net-zero policies, support for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, the economy and the possible postponement of local elections in May.
Elections are to be held in more than half of the county councils can ask Ministers delayed ballot papers following major changes to local government.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said it would be “ridiculous” to hold elections for councils being reorganised.
However, the topic has angered Reform UK members, many of whom hope the party could make electoral gains in the May elections.
Blogger Lisa Martin-Pope says that’s why she decided to attend the conference this evening: “I’m missing my dancing for this.”
He argues that potential delays are tantamount to “eliminating access to local democracy for local people”.
“These officers are scared.”
Eve Wilkinson is similarly angry. She says, “It’s disgusting, completely undemocratic, completely inappropriate. It makes me angry.”
Caroline Burford-Pugh, her husband Richard and their friends Charlotte and Matthew Lubbe have attended the event together.
They are new members, new to politics and Caroline says she gives a 10 out of 10 chance of Farage becoming Prime Minister after the next election.
Party has prospered Ratings have increased by about 15 to 20%, says Luke Trill of the research group More in Common, due to dissatisfaction with the Conservatives and disappointment with Labour’s early signals. But general elections are still years away.
It remains to be seen whether the party can muster five MPs into government in 2024, but whatever happens, it is clear that party members are still excited by what reform has to offer.
