One hundred and eighty… thousand! Reform UK leader Nigel Farage channelled his inner Luke Littler yesterday to celebrate his party reaching 180,000 members.
In a pointed jibe at the Tory leadership Mr Farage held up a dartboard registering the maximum 180 score.
The news led to wild cheers at Reform UK’s North West England Conference in Chester – and a visibly delighted leader.
It follows an angry war of words over Christmas between Mr Farage and Kemi Badenoch, who claimed Reform was faking the figures when it said its membership had gone past 131,680 – the number of eligible Tory members in the party’s autumn leadership election.
Nigel Farage holds up a dartboard showing a score of 180, as his party Reform UK surpassed 180,000 members
The party leader was delighted at having reached the target, the news of which led to wild cheers at Reform UK’s North West England Conference
Mr Farage with Robin James Hunter-Clarke, Harrison Allman-Varty and Kieran Mishchuk (left to right)
Faced with the accusation, Mr Farage initially threatened legal action against the Conservative leader but has since withdrawn the threat, saying he will instead descend on her North West Essex constituency with 1,200 supporters later this month.
The Reform leader said: ‘I’m going to hold a big event for all the Reform members living in her constituency. And I’m going to do a big joint photo, Kemi, and say, “These are our fake members and we are coming for you at the next election.”’
Mr Farage’s supporters in Chester claimed yesterday that the Tory attack had backfired badly because Reform UK’s membership figures are thought to have surged following the spat.