Public announcements and media reports

Nigel Farage Cedes Control of Reform UK, Aims for Major Gains After Winning 5 Seats and 14% Vote

Sep 20, 2024, 03:11 PM

Nigel Farage has announced he is giving up ownership and control of Reform UK, handing over shares and decision-making power to the party's members. This move, aimed at democratizing the party, comes as Reform UK kicks off its first major conference in Birmingham. Farage emphasized the need for rigorous vetting of candidates to avoid past issues with extremism and racism. The party, which secured five seats and 14% of the vote in the recent general election, aims to win the next general election and become a significant political force. Farage also highlighted the party's plans to contest every seat in the upcoming local elections in May 2025 and its ambition to replace Labour in power by 2029. Additionally, Farage claimed Reform UK would be a serious contender in the Senedd election. The conference, attended by thousands of delegates, featured speeches from key figures including Deputy Leader Richard Tice and Chairman Zia Yusuf. Farage's speech included a jab at Prime Minister Keir Starmer over recent controversies and reiterated the party's commitment to professionalizing its operations. Farage also revealed advice from Donald Trump, emphasizing the potential for Reform UK to achieve significant success.