Reform UK's annual conference in Birmingham enters its final day on Saturday with scheduled speeches from party leader Nigel Farage and treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick, even as the event continues to be overshadowed by financial scandal and disruption elsewhere in the country.
The gathering has been marked by controversy stemming from undercover footage showing senior party figures discussing potential circumvention of electoral law on foreign donations. Two officials—James Orr, the party's head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to Farage—have been permanently suspended pending investigation. Jenrick confirmed the suspensions to Times Radio, stating that due process would be followed and both men would have a right of reply. Neither has commented on the allegations.
Meanwhile, traffic chaos has engulfed the Port of Dover after dozens of masked men blocked multiple routes in and out of the facility on Saturday morning. According to National Highways, the disruption has created four miles of congestion with delays reaching up to 45 minutes. The Port of Dover confirmed that access is restricted across all routes in and out of the facility and around the town itself.
Chris Vinson, leader of the Conservative group at Dover District Council, described the demonstration as appearing to be "coordinated" and related to immigration policy. He told the Press Association:
Overnight, clearly what appears to be several hundred masked men wearing black clothing and balaclavas seem to have coordinated and loaded into rental vans and then descended on roads leading in and out of Dover with the intent to block them, and that's what they've successfully done, and it's brought the town to a standstill. There are stacks of people who are stuck in their cars or in their workplaces as a result.
Paul King, a Reform UK councillor for Dover West, characterised the action as a "stop the boats protest" focused on immigration enforcement. P&O Ferries confirmed that access to the port was currently restricted, affecting ferry operations at the UK's busiest international passenger and freight terminal.
Kent Police said in a statement: "We are aware of a protest currently taking place at the Port of Dover. Officers are in attendance and engaging with protesters."
What tax cuts is Jenrick proposing?
Jenrick is expected to use his speech on Saturday to announce a significant tax-cutting pledge aimed at refocusing the party's messaging on economic policy. The treasury spokesman will propose raising the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 within the first 100 days of a Reform government, up from the current threshold of £12,570 that has remained in place since 2021 and is scheduled to stay frozen until 2031.
Reform UK calculates that the increase would save the average taxpayer £500 annually and remove 2.9 million people from the income tax system entirely. The party estimates the policy would cost £17.7 billion in its first year, rising to £21 billion after five years. Jenrick is expected to frame the proposal as a step toward the party's longer-term goal of a £20,000 personal allowance, to be achieved "step-by-step" as finances permit.
The treasury spokesman will also outline approximately £80 billion in spending cuts, primarily through reductions to the welfare budget. He is expected to present the choice starkly:
The hard choice for Burnham and for us is exactly the same. It's either welfare waste, foreign aid and migrants — or the British worker. We choose the worker.
How did Friday's proceedings unfold?
The first full day of the conference on Friday was dominated by the foreign donations scandal rather than policy announcements. Farage's keynote speech was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, including two women who held up a banner reading "Reform works for billionaires" before being removed by security. During the same address, Farage told the audience that the party had been targeted by a "highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks."
The undercover investigation, which prompted the suspensions, exposed divisions within Reform's leadership. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesperson, publicly distanced himself from the suspended officials, telling reporters that "anyone who supports Reform is disappointed" by the revelations. He characterised the investigation as something he was "not personally involved in."
Yusuf's response sparked speculation among party insiders about potential leadership ambitions, with some suggesting he could challenge either Jenrick or Richard Tice if Farage were forced to step down over the financial controversies. However, sources close to Farage indicated tension between the two men, with Farage reportedly critical of Yusuf's combative social media presence, including a post on X that drew accusations of racism toward a Somalia-born Labour councillor.
The row comprehensively overshadowed the first full day of proceedings, with every Reform politician facing repeated questioning about the scandal and the party's financial practices.
What is the broader context of the conference?
The Reform UK conference represents a significant moment for the party as it seeks to establish itself as a major political force. The gathering has attracted international attention, with Jordan Bardella of France's National Rally also scheduled to address the conference, underlining Reform's connections to right-wing populist movements across Europe.
The financial scandal has created a challenging backdrop for the party's messaging. The undeclared £5 million gift to Reform, which protesters raised during Friday's proceedings, has become a focal point of controversy. The party has faced renewed scrutiny over its funding sources and compliance with electoral law, issues that the suspensions of Orr and Jukes were intended to address.
The Dover protest adds another layer of complexity to the conference narrative. While the demonstration appears to reflect grassroots concern about immigration policy—a core Reform UK platform—the disruption at the nation's busiest ferry port has drawn media attention away from the party's policy announcements and toward the chaos surrounding its leadership.
Key Facts
- Jenrick will propose raising the income tax personal allowance to £15,000 within 100 days of taking office, saving taxpayers an average of £500 annually and removing 2.9 million people from income tax
- Two senior Reform officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, have been permanently suspended following undercover footage showing discussions about potential circumvention of electoral law on foreign donations
- Dozens of masked protesters blocked the Port of Dover on Saturday, creating four miles of congestion and up to 45 minutes of delays at the UK's busiest international passenger and freight terminal
- Farage's speech on Friday was interrupted by protesters holding a banner criticising the party, and he told the audience Reform had been targeted by a "highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks"
- The conference concludes on Saturday with final speeches from Jenrick, other senior figures, and Farage, who will deliver closing remarks
