“There aren’t going to be any singalongs at conference this year,” says a Reform aide. “Or any COVID deniers.”
At last year’s event, regional mayor Andrea Jenkyns sang a self-penned rock song on stage, and a guest speaker claimed that Covid vaccines were linked to the cancers of King Charles III and the Princess of Wales. This time, the party is hoping to project a far more serious image.
Farage has also finally surmounted many of the internal problems that bedevilled his previous parties. Ukip in particular had significant struggles with money, resources and organisation.
In contrast, Reform UK has oodles of cash thanks to the generosity of crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. The party recently received another £4m from Ben Delo, a crypto billionaire.
The party has in just two years built a slick press, marketing and social media operation.
But insiders say there are still problems with candidate selection and polling, and Farage’s loyalty to long-term aides is partly to blame.
“There are too many staff who Nigel’s had for too long, who he is loyal to, but who won’t take Reform from where they are to where they need to be,” says Montgomerie.
“The quality of Reform opinion polling is nowhere near as good as the Tories are getting. They never know what’s going on at the ground level. Their intelligence at the last three by-elections has been way off.”
The aggressive style of the party’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, has also led to internal friction.
Yusuf is credited with professionalising the party and is hugely popular with Reform members, but not with all of his colleagues. Last month he called former Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace a “traitor to Britain” and was reprimanded by Farage.
“Zia’s a valued colleague,” says one party insider with a grin. Others are more blunt and believe the current situation is unsustainable. “You can’t keep blowing stuff up. You can’t keep on massacring your own side,” says one senior Farage ally. “Nigel is loyal but he’s also pragmatic.”
Reform may have had a difficult few months, yet they have maintained a big base of supporters.
“It’s easy to think they are finished and on the way out,” says Crick.
“But to have more than 20% in the opinion polls is way beyond what they got at the election, and it’s a very good base to build from”.
Whether or not Burnham calls a snap general election next spring, Farage is in the best position of his life to get hold of real power.
This weekend’s conference, and how Farage responds to the latest allegations about his colleagues, should give us a strong sign as to whether he is ruthless and focussed enough to achieve it.
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