The BBCEven by the standards of the Reform UK party, it has been an interesting few weeks.
In December, its leader Nigel Farage traveled to Florida to meet with billionaire Elon Musk, where they discussed a possible donation.
On Boxing Day, it announced that its membership figures had overtaken those of the Conservatives. It was then. A wholesale With Conservative leader Kimmy Bedenock on whether those numbers were accurate.
In a post on his social media site X last Sunday, Musk unexpectedly Seemed to withdraw support With Farage saying he “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party.
And 10 Reform UK councilors in Derbyshire on Friday Resigned from the party.in protest against Farage’s leadership.
Reform UK members gathered at Sandown Racecourse on Friday evening for the party’s South East conference, undaunted by the potential loss of a wealthy and influential backer.
“I don’t like this musky chap,” says Gloria Jean Martin.
She worked in cabin crew for British Airways until she reached the point where “I never wanted to meet passengers again” and instead started investing in property and campaigning in politics.
“That [Musk] Hanging money. I fear that strings will be attached, that he will demand certain policies.
“I think reform got off lightly … Nigel has handled it diplomatically. I don’t think he can afford to keep Musk too close.
“He is destructive, he can destroy reform.”
Sandown drew about 850 attendees, according to organizers, who said it was a sell-out event.
Among them is Howard Ward from Winchester, who has switched from Conservative to Reform.
Like many here, he’s not worried about Musk. “Let him do the talking,” he says.
Kevin Burrell doesn’t think Musk is “serious” and even if he is, it doesn’t matter. “We have Candy… He’s going to do wonders.”
Nick Candy is the party’s new treasurer. He is a property tycoon, the husband of former pop singer Holly Valance and a recent donor to the Tories.
Beverley Newman is here with her partner Eve Wilkinson. She agrees that candy will be important, but adds that the party can grow more from membership.
“Musk won’t matter to him. [Farage’s] Popularity,” says Krishanda from West Sussex.” I thought she handled it beautifully. He was not ready to bow.”
Musk has not explained his reasoning, but Farage said the pair were at odds because Musk wanted the reforms to “come out strongly in support” of Tommy Robinson.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court.
Former head of the far-right English Defense League Admitted After losing a defamation case in 2021, a Syrian refugee in court for breaching an injunction against repeated claims about a schoolboy.
Farage left his former party, UKIP, in 2018. is saying His association with Robinson brought “discord” and “violence” to the party.
They have refused Robinson permission to join Reform UK.
Party members at the event in Sandown talk solemnly about the election success, and while many sympathize with Robinson, they understand why he can be politically unpopular.
“Whatever happens to Tommy, his heart is in the right place but the mainstream media will never forgive him,” says Kevin Burrell.
“As much as I appreciate what he’s doing I can understand why Reform doesn’t support him.
“If you end up in a shouting match over this, you end up with the Tories or Labour.”
Jackie Collette says she doesn’t know “what’s driving Nigel’s digs” but adds that Robinson is a “loose cannon”.
She says she is a realist and admits that reform may “disappear into the forest” but for now she says “this is the only party that gives me hope to go out in the morning”.
As evening falls, The news comes out About 10 Reform UK councilors in Derbyshire who resigned, arguing that the party was being run in an “increasingly autocratic way” and had “lost its sense of direction” since Farage took over. It’s done.”
Farage later told BBC Newsnight that the group was a “rogue branch” of the party that “didn’t pass muster”.
The group’s leader, Councilor Alex Stevenson, who was suspended as a member in December, and who stood for Reform UK in the Amber Valley in the general election, did not deny that he had rigged the local elections. Some of the candidates that were presented were not with the party. testing process.
There is no mention of resignations at the conference, instead members are invited to celebrate the defection of two councilors from the Conservatives to the Reform.
And there is little public sign of dissatisfaction with Farage, although one member expressed his dismay.
Preferring anonymity, (“I don’t want to be thrown out”), he says, “Farij doesn’t necessarily have what it takes”.
“He’s quite arrogant. Rupert Lowe would be my preference. He’s working hard asking questions in Parliament. Nigel not so much.”
On Robinson, he suggested Farage “shouldn’t be so critical”.
Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, isn’t a household name but it’s one that’s been popping up all evening without a hint.
Graham Croft-Smith expressed some disappointment that Lowe was not speaking at the event. “He is a true statesman,” he says.
Lowe is not there but some other big names in the party are, including MP and party founder Richard Tice and chair Zia Yusuf.
Youssef opened his speech by welcoming “all you fake reform members” – a reference to Cammy Bedinock. Doubts More than the number of members
London Assembly member Alex Wilson asked how many viewers spent Boxing Day watching the party’s membership contest.
“Yes!’ shouts a woman in the audience.
Last month, a digital tracker on Reform’s website showed its membership numbers had surpassed the Conservatives’ announced figure of 131,680 in 2024.
Reform UK was originally called the Brexit Party, but Brexit gets few mentions these days.
Major 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 due in more than half of the county councils. can ask Ministers will delay the ballot, following a massive reshuffle of local governments.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said it would be “ridiculous” to hold elections for councils that were to be restructured.
However, the issue has angered Reform UK members, many of whom hope to see the party make electoral gains in May’s election.
Blogger Lisa Martin Pope says that’s why she decided to attend the conference this evening, adding: “I miss my dancing for it.”
She argues that potential delays “are tantamount to ending access to local democracy for local people.”
“These officials are running scared.”
Eve Wilkinson is similarly angry. “It’s disgusting, totally undemocratic, totally unorganized,” she says.
Caroline Burford-Pugh, her husband Richard and their friends Charlotte and Matthew Looby came to the event together.
She is a new member, new to politics and Caroline says she has a 10 out of 10 chance of Farage becoming Prime Minister after the next election.
The party Progress has been made Luke Trail of the research group More in Common says the rating is around 15 to 20 percent, due to discontent with the Conservatives and early signs of disappointment from Labour. But general elections are years away.
Whether the party can go into government with five MPs in 2024 remains to be seen, but whatever happens, it is clear that party members are still enthusiastic about the reform offering.