Daily Star reporter Sian Hewitt went to Reform UK’s conference and ‘came away terrified that these people could be in with even a sniff of any form of power’
I have just spent three glittering days surrounded by people who appeared full of judgement and somewhat lacking in common sense at times. And no, I am not talking about my strong-willed two-year-old daughter, who I left behind for a trip to Birmingham.
I spent Thursday to Saturday in the company of Reform, the right-wing party – and make no mistake, the party IS on the right – as its politicians set out their plan for their “first 100 days” in government at their annual party conference.
I covered the same event last year, and came away 12 months ago baffled and exasperated, but not overly concerned. But this year felt different. This year I came away terrified that these people could be in with even a sniff of any form of power.
Love him or loathe him, Nigel Farage is an excellent crowd speaker. He rouses audiences, and speaks clearly and confidently, delivering his message well. But the problem at times is the actual message he is preaching.
Reform make a point of saying they are not a “cult”, but to put it bluntly, it feels at times like there is almost no line too far that Farage could cross. He could sacrifice a Tory voter live on stage and some of his lackies would find a reason to find that okay.
His thousands of worshippers, it appears, would forgive anything, and the danger is that he is fully aware of this. Just 12 hours before the official doors opened, the scandal claiming the party had looked to accept illegal donations broke.
But hardly a single person I spoke to cared. “It’s a sting,” was the general consensus, and his lackies lined up to say the same thing: “It is entrapment, we didn’t accept any money.”
But is that the point?
The party has seemingly proved they would be willing to let outside countries influence the UK’s political system. By accepting money – and thereby influence from abroad – they could allow those who may well hate Britain to come in and start having a say – provided they have enough cash to inject into multi-millionaire Farage and his pals first.
And is that not the EXACT thing that Reform is telling the public it needs to be terrified of? Fear was the message all weekend. Fear those from other countries! Fear those born in war-torn countries! Fear those who have opposing views!
I heard an audience of thousands cheer from the rafters while Zia Yusuf told the crowds that Reform will meet CHILDREN coming over on small boats with guns. Children. Having guns pointed in their faces by marines. The party preached on day one that we “must protect our women and children” in a rousing speech by Sarah Pochin, yet hours later, a female protestor was reprimanded in front of my eyes for standing up to heckle Farage.
She was grabbed by the throat and yanked by her hair by Reform members, furious there had been an interruption. Farage watched on, making crude remarks about finding a “screamer” and appeared to laugh as she was manhandled.
There is no way to dress that up. Regardless of your political opinions, there can be no place for that in a civilised society. It was awful and disgusting and stomach-churning.
“We must protect our women and children”, unless they have an opposing view it seems, and then they are fair game to be beaten up as we watch on and laugh.
“They’re stopping our free speech” was another cry. But don’t you dare come and question our policies! We will shut you down and shut you up, by force if necessary.
The hypocrisy was astounding. And the issue we have is they are preying on the naive, and they are looking for the “ordinary man’s vote”. The typical Daily Star reader, people we are proud to cover the news for.
One couple I met were well informed and had a debate with me about the points I’ve raised above. I made it clear I was from the media and they actually agreed with many of my points, and that Reform’s conduct has “shaken some confidence” – but said they were at their wits end with politics as a whole. Which is fair.
And that is why it is so important for me to write this. It is fair to have a concern over the state of the country right now – the debt that has built up, the early release of prisoners, the grooming gangs who were allowed to roam, the vile monster that is Axel Rudakubana murdering innocent children.
It is fair to have a concern over uncontrolled mass immigration but they are not telling you the facts. The facts are that between January 1 and September 5 2026, a total of 16,513 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France. This was down by 43% on the same period the previous year. Nearly halved.
Reform will not “fix” this country. The party will increase the divide and increase the hate. The history books tell us that nothing good can come from increasing fear, hatred and division.
Let’s look at its policies. Farage told the mob that should Reform be elected he will flood the House of Lords with Reform fans, and if that doesn’t work, he will abolish it. He said he will then restrict the powers of the courts and remove members of the Civil Service if they disagree with him.
Does that sound like democracy? Forcibly removing those who have a differing view or belief? No, instead, that sounds eerily similar to a certain regime in the 1930s. The lies to suit their regime continued all weekend.
They couldn’t let people in the main hall as everyone was “too keen to get in” and it was too busy, yet I was sat there in a hall half empty. It turns out there were protests at the entrance to the building and not enough security.
They had to delay Farage’s keynote speech on the advice of police amid fears of his safety. Simply not true. Police confirmed they had given no such advice. Those considering voting Reform need to realise that actually, they are not safe either.
Draconian laws will hit them too, no matter where they placed their cross on their ballot form. They will not be given special treatment for agreeing in the first place.
Simply put, should they get in power, the UK’s democracy will take a massive hit. And that is simply a place we should all fear.