What a belter of an article! You capture the sense of Farage’s pitch at NEC perfectly…I had not properly appreciated the shift but now get it clearly. Thank you. Your final sentence is solid gold.
Excellent reflection, truly great speech from Nigel. Where /why has the membership ticker gone on the website? It has proved a good barometer of reaction to events.
It evaporated from the Reform website a week or so ago. I imagine that currently the membership is sitting dynamically at about 270,000 with a good few loyal Reformers not renewing their subs but new joiners buoying up the number. Whilst it was steadily rising it was a nice stick with which to beat Lab/Con/LibDems over the head but not so much if membership has plateaued at a decent level.
Wonderful speech by Nigel! I wish I could have been there and drink in the atmosphere. I had to watch it on U-Tube as not a mention on BBC or any other media. This is censorship! Two and a half thousand people attended this ReformUK conference in Birmingham with standing ovations. Of course in his speech he could only mention the headlines of changes Reform will make; if he elaborated on each topic the speech would have taken hours. All the defectors to Reform are no longer Conservatives as they disagreed with the direction of travel of their former party and have resigned. Good for them that they now have a true home to go to and can now help Nigel, Zia and Richard steer the way through warped and diseased governmental bodies. Remember: we are talking of a last chance saloon for a great country, her people and a green and pleasant land! Go on Reform!
It’s not really censorship, the Whitehall melodrama was a far bigger news story, journalists on the train to Birmingham were instructed to return to London as the Sarwar story was breaking.
Superb dissection and analysis of Nigel’s keynote speech! And you are so right, I came away with the words ‘national interest’ as my new keystone that holds together the many policies that make Reform refreshing and different. As an aside I am currently reading ‘Ten years to save the West by Liz Truss and dare I say it reads, so far, not dissimilar to a Reform manifesto!! Understand that in the short term Liz is too toxic by association with her political assassination BUT my goodness she would be a great asset and if as I suspect she is, she isn’t in conversation then may I propose a strong consideration. X
I thought he made a few errors actually so maybe he was tired. Look I will vote Reform but not with much enthusiasm. Rupert was the best and is doing what Reform promised uncovering the Rape gang scandal. It is same old same old but there is not much else to support at the moment.
I've cancelled my membership and so has my Gen z. Its tedious listening to a party banging on about family that can't seem to understand that without homes we can't make them. We won't be voting for anyone that doesn't have a credible plan for housing. I'm tired of hearing farmers, oil, pensioners etc its as though, like the Tories, you are avoiding it because its not a priority.
It all looks good but it's not hitting my priorities.
Not particularly helpful behind a paywall!! Just because you build doesn't make them affordable. We've heard it all for years. Until multiples come down to historic average that makes them affordable it won't change.
There needs to be a functioning economy, and we cannot build without skilled builders and affordable materials. I hope - and it is hope - that Reform at least understand this. We also bear in mind that the population is in decline, absent migration and there is a great deal of underutilised housing stock in areas where the economy does not function, which brings us back to the other side of the circle.
Excellent summary of the event, Gawain. I noticed the small gaffes that Nigel made and put it down to the fact that he probably hadn't had much sleep over the weekend! There are so many things wrong with the country right now and it's unrealistic for anyone to expect Reform to change it all on Day 1. They can't, but they have the will to push against the status quo and the burgeoning blob to start the change, and are the only party I trust to do this. The Conservatives have become a (very weak) Reform tribute act but we all know there ain't nothing like the real thing.
OK Gawain, it sounds like it was a really good event. But was there any mention of what he is going to with the problems thrown up by the Rape Gang Inquiry? It has been said that Nigel has told everyone not to mention the inquiry. Is this true?
I ask because the problems the inquiry has thrown up are huge, and its implications are very long term. But the first step comes in recognising that the problem exists, and so far, Reform has not done this.
Reform have certainly recognised this, and will institute a proper, legally compelling investigation into the cover ups. Simultaneously we have to consider governing the country, not just running a single legal enquiry.
This if I may offer an opinion is where wisdom comes in, that and timing! Shout all you like and indeed we should shout relentlessly about this, but keep your powder dry, wait till you have the tools, opportunity and legal position to bring a conclusion to these dreadful crimes. Reform UK will make this enquiry and prosecutions their first priority when they form the next government (stated at the rally) x
Yes, it sounds good in theory, but in practice, thus far, the Rape Gang Inquiry has had no visible support from any Reform MP. It does not compromise any future policy in any way (assuming they intend to do what you say) to show support and interest in what is coming out. Remember that these women have had decades of "assurances" and yet nothing has happened. So forgive my cynicism, but I no longer believe any politician in what they say. I only believe things when they actually happen.
Yes I agree, it is hard to trust politicians today. Consistency speaks a lot! Nigel has been consistent for decades and that on its own puts him head and shoulders above the rest. There is a problem with association also! IMO Yaxley Lennon, Habib and Lowe take the focus away from the direction that Reform are taking, I regard two of them as indeed traitorous to the Reform members and party, I would even go as far as using the words egotistical and narcissistic. Reform have been outspoken on the rape gangs enquiry and their intention is quite possibly the only hope, but as I said before ‘keep your powder dry’
He was very impressive 👏 why is he or any other Reform MP not signing rape gangs 👀 why are they not talking about any of this ? WHAT has it got to do with us what private companies staff do working from home? This is not our concern Gawain
What a belter of an article! You capture the sense of Farage’s pitch at NEC perfectly…I had not properly appreciated the shift but now get it clearly. Thank you. Your final sentence is solid gold.
Excellent reflection, truly great speech from Nigel. Where /why has the membership ticker gone on the website? It has proved a good barometer of reaction to events.
It evaporated from the Reform website a week or so ago. I imagine that currently the membership is sitting dynamically at about 270,000 with a good few loyal Reformers not renewing their subs but new joiners buoying up the number. Whilst it was steadily rising it was a nice stick with which to beat Lab/Con/LibDems over the head but not so much if membership has plateaued at a decent level.
Wonderful speech by Nigel! I wish I could have been there and drink in the atmosphere. I had to watch it on U-Tube as not a mention on BBC or any other media. This is censorship! Two and a half thousand people attended this ReformUK conference in Birmingham with standing ovations. Of course in his speech he could only mention the headlines of changes Reform will make; if he elaborated on each topic the speech would have taken hours. All the defectors to Reform are no longer Conservatives as they disagreed with the direction of travel of their former party and have resigned. Good for them that they now have a true home to go to and can now help Nigel, Zia and Richard steer the way through warped and diseased governmental bodies. Remember: we are talking of a last chance saloon for a great country, her people and a green and pleasant land! Go on Reform!
It’s not really censorship, the Whitehall melodrama was a far bigger news story, journalists on the train to Birmingham were instructed to return to London as the Sarwar story was breaking.
I hope you're right and there is substance and conviction here, too much depends on this. A pint in the last chance saloon?
Everything depends on it.
Reform or Bust.
Superb dissection and analysis of Nigel’s keynote speech! And you are so right, I came away with the words ‘national interest’ as my new keystone that holds together the many policies that make Reform refreshing and different. As an aside I am currently reading ‘Ten years to save the West by Liz Truss and dare I say it reads, so far, not dissimilar to a Reform manifesto!! Understand that in the short term Liz is too toxic by association with her political assassination BUT my goodness she would be a great asset and if as I suspect she is, she isn’t in conversation then may I propose a strong consideration. X
I thought he made a few errors actually so maybe he was tired. Look I will vote Reform but not with much enthusiasm. Rupert was the best and is doing what Reform promised uncovering the Rape gang scandal. It is same old same old but there is not much else to support at the moment.
I've cancelled my membership and so has my Gen z. Its tedious listening to a party banging on about family that can't seem to understand that without homes we can't make them. We won't be voting for anyone that doesn't have a credible plan for housing. I'm tired of hearing farmers, oil, pensioners etc its as though, like the Tories, you are avoiding it because its not a priority.
It all looks good but it's not hitting my priorities.
C- must try harder or fail.
Without an economy there will be no housing, Simon Dudley joining us this weekend is for precisely the reason you highlight.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/09/im-joining-reform-to-fix-britains-housing-crisis/
Not particularly helpful behind a paywall!! Just because you build doesn't make them affordable. We've heard it all for years. Until multiples come down to historic average that makes them affordable it won't change.
I agree with wholeheartedly
There needs to be a functioning economy, and we cannot build without skilled builders and affordable materials. I hope - and it is hope - that Reform at least understand this. We also bear in mind that the population is in decline, absent migration and there is a great deal of underutilised housing stock in areas where the economy does not function, which brings us back to the other side of the circle.
Excellent summary of the event, Gawain. I noticed the small gaffes that Nigel made and put it down to the fact that he probably hadn't had much sleep over the weekend! There are so many things wrong with the country right now and it's unrealistic for anyone to expect Reform to change it all on Day 1. They can't, but they have the will to push against the status quo and the burgeoning blob to start the change, and are the only party I trust to do this. The Conservatives have become a (very weak) Reform tribute act but we all know there ain't nothing like the real thing.
OK Gawain, it sounds like it was a really good event. But was there any mention of what he is going to with the problems thrown up by the Rape Gang Inquiry? It has been said that Nigel has told everyone not to mention the inquiry. Is this true?
I ask because the problems the inquiry has thrown up are huge, and its implications are very long term. But the first step comes in recognising that the problem exists, and so far, Reform has not done this.
Reform have certainly recognised this, and will institute a proper, legally compelling investigation into the cover ups. Simultaneously we have to consider governing the country, not just running a single legal enquiry.
This if I may offer an opinion is where wisdom comes in, that and timing! Shout all you like and indeed we should shout relentlessly about this, but keep your powder dry, wait till you have the tools, opportunity and legal position to bring a conclusion to these dreadful crimes. Reform UK will make this enquiry and prosecutions their first priority when they form the next government (stated at the rally) x
Yes, it sounds good in theory, but in practice, thus far, the Rape Gang Inquiry has had no visible support from any Reform MP. It does not compromise any future policy in any way (assuming they intend to do what you say) to show support and interest in what is coming out. Remember that these women have had decades of "assurances" and yet nothing has happened. So forgive my cynicism, but I no longer believe any politician in what they say. I only believe things when they actually happen.
Yes I agree, it is hard to trust politicians today. Consistency speaks a lot! Nigel has been consistent for decades and that on its own puts him head and shoulders above the rest. There is a problem with association also! IMO Yaxley Lennon, Habib and Lowe take the focus away from the direction that Reform are taking, I regard two of them as indeed traitorous to the Reform members and party, I would even go as far as using the words egotistical and narcissistic. Reform have been outspoken on the rape gangs enquiry and their intention is quite possibly the only hope, but as I said before ‘keep your powder dry’
He was very impressive 👏 why is he or any other Reform MP not signing rape gangs 👀 why are they not talking about any of this ? WHAT has it got to do with us what private companies staff do working from home? This is not our concern Gawain
Getting Islam out the west is .