Nigel Farage says Reform has ‘come of age’ after ‘joyous’ convention

Nigel Farage today claimed Reform UK had ‘come of age’ as he wrapped up a ‘joyous’ party conference in Birmingham.

The 60-year-old admitted he was a ‘little bit croaky’ – after a boozy party last night – as he gave a final speech at the two-day gathering.

Mr Farage told the 4,000 activists who gathered at the National Exhibition Centre that ‘you are in control’ following his decision to give up ownership of the party.

He has used the conference to promise to ‘professionalise and democratise’ Reform and was today boosted as members overwhelmingly backed a new party constitution.

The 17-page document gives Mr Farage, as party leader, key powers over the appointment of board members and key officials.

It also sets out a high threshold needed for Mr Farage to face a no confidence motion, should the party’s MPs or members wish for him to be deposed.

But grassroots activists dismissed fears the ex-UKIP leader – despite giving up ownership – was bolstering his tight grip on his new party.

Nigel Farage today claimed Reform UK had ‘come of age’ as he wrapped up a ‘joyous’ party conference in Birmingham

The Reform leader had earlier appeared on the main conference stage to formally sign a copy of the party’s new constitution

A Reform activist, wearing a Union Jack t-shirt reading ‘Fearless’, attends day two of the party’s conference at the National Exhibition Centre

One party member suggested chairman Zia Yusuf could one day replace Mr Farage as leader

In his final address to Reform’s conference, Mr Farage hailed ‘the most joyous gathering of a political party I reckon has ever happened in this country in modern history’.

He had earlier appeared on the main conference stage to formally sign a copy of the party’s new constitution, which party chairman Zia Yusuf said ‘puts members at its heart’.

Mr Yusuf hailed the official adoption of the document, through a vote on the conference floor, as ‘an important and historic day for this party’.

Reform activists, who have greeted Mr Farage’s arrival at conference events with chants of ‘Nigel, Nigel, Nigel’, were loathe to criticise the party’s newly-adopted rules.

Mark Fox, who was Reform’s general election candidate in Kingston and Surbiton, did not vote in favour of the constitution but said this only due to ‘some little wrinkles’ in its wording.

He told MailOnline: ‘It’s a fairly sound document in all of its parts, there are just parts I just wish we had a little more time to talk over and refine.

‘You can’t have pure democracy in a political party… there needs to be leadership, guidance, control and tough decisions have to be made.’

Mr Fox admitted there could be ‘long-term’ issues with the party’s new rules, but dismissed a suggestion the document represented a power grab by Mr Farage.

‘No, not at all. The ironic thing is when Nigel was in UKIP, he had a real trouble with the national executive committee, so I’m surprised he’s done this,’ he added.

‘In many ways, he’s accepted that sort of system has to be in place.’ 

Martin Belt, a party member from Bridlington and The Wolds, described the document as ‘fabulous’.

And Thomas Joynson, a member of Reform’s Chester South and Eddisbury branch, backed Mr Farage’s right to retain a tight grip over the party.

‘He’s created Reform so he should be allowed to decide what he does with it,’ he said.

‘He should be allowed to appoint the board because if it goes wrong he’ll be held accountable.’

Mr Joynson said he had been a lifelong Conservative voter but had backed Reform at July’s election and joined the party shortly after.

Martyn Sutton, from Reform’s Lancaster and Wyre branch, said party members would ‘find their feet’ over the coming years as the party expands.

He suggested Mr Yusuf could one day replace Mr Farage as party leader.

‘Nigel’s not going to last forever is he, I know some people think – whatever the future holds for him – that without him there isn’t any Reform UK,’ he said.

‘But I don’t necessarily see that that’s true. I’m actually really inspired by Zia Yusuf, I think he’s fantastic and maybe that’s where the future lies.’