Reform leader Nigel Farage claims his party will win the next UK election – Reuters

By Elizabeth Piper

BIRMINGHAM, England – Reform UK leader and prominent Brexit advocate Nigel Farage targeted the governing Labour Party during a rally on Friday, asserting that his right-wing party is attracting voters disenchanted with the current administration and is poised to win the next election.

The 60-year-old self-styled provocateur aims to unseat Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in the upcoming 2029 election, following a successful campaign that diminished support for the once-dominant Conservative Party in a recent vote.

"The silent majority stands with us on the crucial issues… We can secure a victory in the next general election simply based on the number of individuals who align with our principles," Farage declared.

Reform UK has gained traction alongside various right-wing parties across Europe. The party garnered 4.1 million votes, accounting for 14% of the total, and earned five parliamentary seats in the July election. Its membership has surged from about 40,000 in early June to over 80,000, while Labour boasts more than 350,000 members.

During a lively conference in Birmingham, Farage received an enthusiastic welcome from a crowd of around 4,000, primarily older supporters, who greeted him with cheers and chants of his name.

"Among those who voted Labour in the July 4 general election, one in four are already considering switching to Reform UK," Farage informed the cheering audience after making his entrance on a stage adorned with fireworks.

CRITICISM OF LABOUR GOVERNMENT

To the disapproval of the crowd, Farage and other Reform representatives highlighted what they described as government shortcomings, ranging from restrictions on pensioners’ fuel payments to the early release of prisoners and controversial pay deals with trade unions, which they labeled Labour’s financial backers.

Labour contends that it has been compelled to make tough choices due to what it describes as the catastrophic legacy left by the previous Conservative government, which created a £22 billion gap in public finances and overcrowded prisons. The party asserts that it has negotiated several wage agreements in sectors such as healthcare and transportation to end industrial action that was hindering economic growth.

Farage, respected by some and criticized by others for his role in the 2016 Brexit referendum, acknowledged that while his party has made strides, there is still work to be done in professionalizing its operations.

Originally launched as the Brexit Party in 2018 and rebranded as Reform three years later, the party is currently structured as a private company with Farage as its largest shareholder. He announced plans to transition it into a member-owned, not-for-profit organization governed by a new constitution.

This restructuring aims to mobilize more grassroots campaigners before local elections next year, building a substantial movement to challenge mainstream parties.

Immigration remains a central focus for Reform, which accuses both the former Conservative administration and Starmer’s Labour of lacking a strategy to address the influx of asylum seekers via small boats. Reform UK proposes to halt these boats in the English Channel and redirect them back to France.

Farage has faced accusations of racism regarding the party’s stance on immigration and cultural adherence, which he vehemently denies.

"We cannot allow a few extremists to undermine the efforts of a party that now boasts 80,000 members and continues to grow daily," he asserted. "We represent the silent, decent majority of this great nation."