Farage speech at Reform conference
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The gist
Nigel Farage addressed Reform UK's conference in Birmingham, unveiling 100-day pledges.
The event is shadowed by journalist bans and accusations of authoritarianism.
Background
Reform UK's annual conference in Birmingham is a key moment for the party, which is seeking to position itself as a credible alternative to the Labour government. Farage and his top lieutenants are using the event to unveil policy pledges for the first 100 days of a potential premiership, aiming to project a serious tone. However, the conference has been overshadowed by the party's decision to ban several journalists, including the Guardian's Anna Isaac, who broke a story about Farage's undeclared £5m donation.
How it unfolded
- Sep 3, 2026Reform UK bans several journalists from its conference, including the Guardian's Anna Isaac, who reported on Farage's £5m 'gift' from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
- Sep 3, 2026Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticizes the bans, saying they show Farage would use state power to target opponents and be authoritarian in government.
- Sep 4, 2026Farage delivers his keynote speech at the conference, paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe as the 'best female politician since Thatcher' and unveiling 100-day pledges.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Reform UK officials say the conference will have a 'very serious tone' and focus on 'key pledges' for the first 100 days of a Farage premiership.
- Critics
- Kemi Badenoch and others argue that banning journalists shows Farage's authoritarian tendencies and contradicts his party's free speech claims.
Still unverified
The exact number of journalists banned and the specific reasons for the bans have not been officially confirmed by Reform UK.