September 20th 2024.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, ended the first day of their conference with a bang. The crowd was treated to a spectacle of fireworks, streamers, and balloons, marking a milestone for the four-year-old party formerly known as the Brexit Party. Farage proudly proclaimed that Reform UK had finally "come of age" after their third-place finish in the July 4 General Election and the addition of five new MPs to their ranks.
As a member of the Agency, I had the opportunity to witness the energy and excitement at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham. The first thing that struck me was the long queue of attendees waiting to get in, due to extensive security checks. Some grumbled about the delay, feeling like they were being treated poorly by the venue staff. This frustration continued at lunchtime when another long queue formed at the only food outlet inside the venue, as attendees were not allowed to leave for security reasons.
Amidst the chaos, I struck up a conversation with the person in front of me, a former Liberal Democrat who had switched to Reform. He explained that the final straw for him was the Lib Dems' stance on reversing Brexit, and he now strongly supported Nigel Farage for Prime Minister. It was clear that the atmosphere at the conference was one of discontent and grievances, despite attempts to create a party atmosphere.
The first speaker, James McMurdock, set the tone for the day with his bewildered and humorous account of being elected as one of Reform's five MPs just two months after joining the party. He was introduced by host David Bull, who shared an anecdote about Farage apologizing to McMurdock for "ruining his life" by getting him elected. McMurdock jokingly agreed, stating that being an MP had indeed "ruined" his life, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
The next speaker, Lee Anderson, played to the crowd with his bold claims and over-the-top digs at various targets, including net zero, the trans community, and Black Lives Matter. He even tore up a BBC licence fee reminder letter on stage, much to the delight of the audience. As if to add to the entertainment, Anderson pointed out comedian Jim Davidson in the audience, who was sitting on a Reform UK bus parked next to the stage.
Despite the party's small size in Parliament, there was a clear sense of ambition and determination among the speakers. Zia Yusuf, the chairman of Reform, spoke about his plans to "professionalize" the party, with the ultimate goal of having Nigel Farage as the next British Prime Minister. Farage himself emphasized the importance of upcoming local elections and the party's popularity at a grassroots level.
However, amidst all the excitement and bold claims, there were moments of ridicule and humor. Farage poked fun at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's love for freebies, while also accepting that he himself had received flight tickets to the US. But in the end, it was all in good fun, and the crowd was clearly united in their support for Reform UK, with hopes of significant success in the future.
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