Think tanks and pressure groups are sending representatives to Reform’s annual conference starting Friday, in a sign that they believe the party may be heading for power. The conference agenda has just been published and leader Nigel Farage, who is due to speak twice, says the theme of the Birmingham event is taking “the next step as a party”.
Reform conferences in the past have focused on big speeches by the party leadership but this year there will also be a series of packed “fringe” events, featuring outside organisations hosting small debates for activists and the media. These are a common feature of Labour and Conservative party conferences, but this year organisations are flocking to Reform’s event in an effort to build relations before the general election – in a sign they think Nigel Farage could become Prime Minister.
Those hosting events include the government of Gibraltar, the Countryside Alliance, the Taxpayers’ Alliance, the Angling Trust, the British Association for Shooting and Conversation, the embassy of Israel, the National Farmers Union and smokers’ rights group Forest.
Also hosting events are think tanks the Prosperity Institute, the Institute for Government, the Adam Smith Institute, the Centre for Policy Studies, the Centre for Social Justice, the Growth Commission.
And there are events from publishers Total Politics and magazine the Spectator, while the Express hosts a pub quiz.
Party leader Nigel Farage delivers his major speech at 4.10pm on Friday September 5, and also says farewell to activists in a speech on Saturday afternoon.
He said: “We are on the march and the sky is the limit!”
He will highlight the progress Reform has made over the past 12 months.
This time last year Reform had 80,000 members but it now has 240,000 and believes it is on course to hit 250,000 soon. It now has 450 branches and 870 councillors.
As well as hearing from Mr Farage, delegates will also hear from new and young faces such as Cllr Annie May O’Neill, who helped the party raise funds by promoting Reform-branded football shirts, and Cllr Charlotte Hill, a former Miss Derbyshire contestant who is Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways and Transport.
There will be fire side chat sessions on the main stage with standout council leaders and the two new mayors, former olympic gold medalist boxer Luke Campbell MBE and Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
