Reform UK is experiencing rapid growth and increasing professionalism, with a larger and more organized conference that balances insurgency energy with expanding appeal, led by Nigel Farage's disciplined leadership and a focus on winning the next general election.
Nigel Farage declared Reform UK as a rising party, urging readiness for an early 2027 general election, and expressed confidence in the party's momentum, while also announcing new initiatives and welcoming Nadine Dorries into the party amidst a buoyant atmosphere.
Rishi Sunak has announced £1.1bn of funding for towns that have been "overlooked" ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. However, the prime minister faces pressure from within his party, with issues such as tax cuts and HS2 causing divisions. Richard Walker, the boss of Iceland supermarkets and a prominent supporter, has resigned from the party, accusing it of having "lost its way." Other Tory MPs are calling for tax cuts, and former Home Secretary Priti Patel has criticized the party's behavior in government. The completion of the HS2 rail line and the debate on leaving the European Convention on Human Rights are also looming over the conference.