Bigots not welcome in Reform UK, says leader Nigel Farage

Farage: Certain candidates caused significant damage to Reform.

Nigel Farage has declared that individuals described as "bigots" and "extremists" are not accepted in Reform UK. He aims to make the party more professional following its achievements in the elections.

Speaking at the annual conference in Birmingham, the leader of Reform UK stated that the party is "maturing" following the election of its first MPs in July.

However, he admitted that the party hadn't been "sufficiently professional" in thoroughly reviewing candidates, especially after facing several issues related to their previous statements.

He mentioned that the party stands for the "quiet majority" and believed they could have gained additional seats, but their lack of experience hindered their success.

As part of the suggested reforms to enhance the party's professionalism, he mentioned that they would be carefully screening candidates for all upcoming elections.

He mentioned that they plan to follow in the footsteps of the Liberal Democrats by trying to gain more council seats in order to improve their national election prospects. Their goal is to secure "hundreds" of seats in the local elections coming up next May.

Reform UK, which used to be called the Brexit Party before the UK left the EU, secured five seats in the elections held in July, establishing its presence in Parliament.

After its rebranding in 2021, the party is striving to establish itself as a lasting presence in the right-wing of British politics. It focuses on cutting immigration, implementing stricter crime policies, and significantly reducing taxes.

Currently, the organization is looking to revamp its party framework, intending to leverage its recent election results as a stepping stone for achieving sustained electoral success in the future.

Before the conference, Farage announced that he would be stepping down as the owner of the party. This party was established as a private limited company to expedite its formation before the European Parliament elections scheduled for spring 2019.

Speaking to delegates, Farage explained that the party's original organization helped prevent it from being infiltrated by "extremist groups." He also noted that new political parties are often at risk of being taken over.

He stated, "We are not interested in extremists or bigots, nor do we want individuals who hold those views. Our goal is to represent the quiet, kind-hearted majority of this wonderful nation."

Nigel Farage addressed an audience of 4,000 people during his inaugural conference speech as a Member of Parliament.

Approximately 4,000 activists are participating in the party's meeting in the West Midlands, which is about four times the number from last year and marks the largest turnout to date.

As Eminem's 2002 hit "Without Me" played—turning into a signature opening song for the leader of Reform UK—Farage greeted supporters while making his way around the auditorium at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre ahead of his speech.

Farage, who secured his position as an MP in July after seven previous tries, was observed by the other four MPs from his party. Among them was Lee Anderson, who was perched on the roof of an open-top double-decker bus inside the conference venue.

In his speech, he informed the activists that he was committed to making the party more professional and accessible to everyone, emphasizing that he had established a strong foundation in Parliament.

He mentioned that the party will be thoroughly evaluating candidates at every level, especially after eliminating some during the general election due to allegations of offensive or racist remarks.

"We don't have the luxury of time or space for a handful of radicals to undermine the efforts of a party that is growing, now boasting 80,000 members and counting," he continued.

We experienced the outbursts of youth that ultimately led to negative consequences for us during the general election.

"But we’ve reached a new stage. The party has matured, and this weekend marks a significant milestone for Reform UK."

In a conversation with reporters following his address, he mentioned that voters had penalized the party due to a few "bad apples" in their lineup of candidates. He also described the last few weeks of the election campaign as a "disaster."

Even though party managers will carry out their own vetting process, he assured the BBC in an interview after his speech that local Reform UK groups will have the authority to "select their own candidates" for upcoming elections.

He mentioned that the branches would have the opportunity to introduce new policies for discussion at upcoming conferences.

A new proposed constitution, which will be voted on Saturday, would make the party's board accountable, along with the leader, for determining policy.

Motions that receive approval from members must be discussed within three months, although they will only carry "advisory weight."