Reform UK opened its annual conference in Birmingham on Wednesday with considerably more seats at Westminster, Holyrood, and the Senedd than last year. Yet the party now faces mounting challenges that could derail its momentum, chief among them a cascade of financial controversies.
At the centre of the storm sits a £5 million gift from Thailand based British billionaire Christopher Harborne to party leader Nigel Farage, which sparked a prolonged dispute over whether Farage should have declared the donation after becoming an MP. The Metropolitan Police is also investigating donations to the party during the last general election campaign, though Reform maintains it takes pride in its stringent vetting process.
Politics ces fast. Just a year ago, Reform’s insurgent energy helped topple then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with Labour fearing that its unpopular leader couldn’t effectively counter Farage’s appeal. Now, with Andy Burnham in Number 10, the landscape looks different.
What happened to Reform’s commanding poll lead? Some surveys no longer show them in first place, while a resurgent Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch and Rupert Lowe’s new Restore Britain outfit have complicated the picture. The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru beat Reform in Scotland and Wales’ devolved elections respectively, suggesting the party’s opponents are regrouping.
The conference will test whether Reform can weather these headwinds or whether last year’s momentum has already peaked.
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