By Jamie Bullen and Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent
Published: 04:59 EDT, 20 September 2024 | Updated: 05:43 EDT, 20 September 2024
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Nigel Farage will today deliver the keynote speech at Reform UK’s party conference in Birmingham where party MPs will insist they can win the next general election.
Mr Farage will be on stage at 4pm after fellow MPs Lee Anderson, Richard Tice and James McMurdock have addressed delegates at The NEC at the start of a two-day event.
The conference comes just a day after Mr Farage declared he will give up his ownership of Reform UK which was set up in 2018 as a private limited company. In July’s general election, Reform won 14pc of the vote with five MPs elected to Westminster led by Mr Farage.
Follow MailOnline’s live coverage below and join in the conversation in our comments section
Reform UK: A potted history
Reform UK was set up by Nigel Farage as a private limited company in 2018 and was initially known as the Brexit Party, a single-issue group advocating for a no deal Brexit.
The populist group won the most seats at the 2019 European elections in the UK but success did not translate to the general election held that year with the party winning no seats.
In January 2021, the party rebranded as Reform one year after the UK left the European Union. Farage stood down as leader in March of that year and was replaced by Richard Tice.
Gaining support through its anti-lockdown messages throughout the pandemic, Reform UK has since broadened out to attract right-wing voters who had grown disaffected with the Conservatives.
In March this year Lee Anderson became the first Reform UK MP after he defected from the Conservative Party. During the election campaign, Mr Tice announced Mr Farage’s return as leader.
The party won five seats at the election with Mr Farage, Mr Tice, Mr Anderson, Rupert Lowe (pictured above) and James McMurdock all successful in the vote.
By Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent
Reform UK’s conference will kick-off in Birmingham at lunchtime today with Nigel Farage’s party insisting they can win the next general election.
After winning five seats in the House of Commons at this year’s election in July, Reform are claiming they can replace Labour in power in 2029.
Mr Farage will use his keynote address to the party’s conference this afternoon to issue a ‘clarion call for change’.
Order of the day
Below is the schedule for today and tomorrow at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Here are the timings for the key speeches today:
- 12:15pm – James McMurdock MP
- 3pm – Rupert Lowe MP
- 3.15pm – Lee Anderson MP
- 3.30pm – Richard Tice MP
- 4pm – Nigel Farage MP
Former Conservative MP Ann Widdicombe and former soldier Ant Middleton will also address the conference.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Nigel Farage will deliver the keynote speech at The NEC with MPs Lee Anderson, Richard Tice and James McMurdock also addressing delegates.
Reform has five MPs in Westminster after securing 14% of the vote in this year’s general election.
Stick with our live coverage as we guide you through the conference with the latest developments and reaction.
The conference opens at 10am but the first event is at midday.
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