Nigel Farage has declared that a Reform UK government would succeed where predecessors have faltered, outlining his party's core objectives during his keynote address at the party's annual conference in Birmingham on 4 September 2026. The speech came as the party grappled with fresh allegations about its funding practices, which had prompted the resignation of two senior officials just hours before Farage took the stage.
Farage pledged that Reform's first 100 days in office would focus on halting small boat crossings, reducing energy bills by £250 annually, and abandoning what he characterised as net zero "lunacy". To remove what he termed "obstacles" to implementing these policies, Farage signalled he would invoke a "national emergency" and threatened sweeping changes to the House of Lords and the judicial appointments process if either body resisted his agenda.
The Reform leader's speech, which faced repeated interruptions from protesters, came at a turbulent moment for the party. Two senior officials had been suspended following an undercover investigation, and Reform had launched its own inquiry into allegations about party funding that emerged in a News report. Despite the controversy, Farage maintained that
"the party has done nothing wrong" and "has taken no illegal money".
The party had sought to use its conference to rebuild momentum after a difficult summer marked by persistent questions about its financial practices. However, reported that Reform UK received a £4 million donation from a crypto investor pardoned by Donald Trump, which accounted for 75 per cent of the party's donations in the last quarter. Farage characterised the scrutiny as part of a coordinated campaign, claiming the allegations emerged
"because they're scared of us".
In his address, Farage argued that the country required a government
"that actually delivers on its promises" and "we're the only people capable of doing it". He criticised the Conservative Party for having
"14 years in power and failed absolutely miserably", and took aim at Prime Minister Andy Burnham's stated intention to develop a 10-year plan for the country. Farage pledged that any Reform minister failing to deliver on commitments within the first 100 days would be dismissed and replaced by someone with
"the courage to do it".
How would Farage handle parliamentary obstruction?
Farage outlined an aggressive approach to passing legislation, declaring that if Reform wins power, he would invoke a "national emergency" to accelerate the legislative process. Under this framework,
"Parliament will sit, if necessary, for 24 hours a day, for six days a week until we pass the necessary legislation". This commitment reflected his determination to move swiftly on his party's core policies.
What would happen if the House of Lords blocked Reform's agenda?
Farage signalled that the upper chamber would face significant pressure to align with Reform's policy priorities. He stated that he expected the House of Lords to
"honour" Reform's policy pledges but if they refused to do so threatened to appoint hundreds of new peers so the party had a majority in the upper chamber. Should that approach prove insufficient, Farage added:
"And if that proves difficult, we will hold a referendum on the current composition of the House of Lords, and they would be swept away by a British public appalled by them".
How would Farage address judicial constraints on his policies?
Farage identified the judiciary as a potential impediment to his agenda and promised to curtail judges' reliance on international human rights frameworks. Specifically, he pledged to remove the ability of judges to draw on conventions such as the European Convention of Human Rights, which critics argue has complicated some deportation cases.
"We don't want the courts striking down, do we, the will of the people,"Farage said, adding that
"Parliament makes the law, judges interpret the law. We will do whatever it takes, and perhaps have to consider how judicial appointments work in the future".
What role would civil servants play under Reform?
Farage signalled that the civil service would face restructuring if officials attempted to obstruct his government's plans. He stated that civil servants who
"try to obstruct us" would be removed from their posts and replaced by people from the world of business. Farage concluded this section of his remarks by declaring:
"I'm tired of being told what can't be done. That is not what the public want. The public want action, the public want genuine change, the public do not want any more of the same. And our attitude is can do, and will do".
Farage took to the stage after a significant delay, which he attributed to a "security alert". His address was interrupted on multiple occasions by protesters, including two women who displayed a banner reading "Reform works for billionaires". Audience members booed the protesters and called for their removal by security. Farage responded to the disruption with apparent amusement, chanting
"boring, boring, boring".
The conference, running from 3 to 5 September 2026 at the NEC in Birmingham, was designed to showcase Reform's plans for its opening 100 days in office. Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally, was scheduled to hold a joint press conference with Farage on the afternoon of 4 September 2026 as part of an international tour, signalling growing ties between populist movements across Europe.
What happens next for Reform?
The conference will continue through 5 September 2026, with Farage scheduled to deliver a closing address. The party faces ongoing scrutiny over its funding practices, with investigations continuing into the sources and handling of donations. Meanwhile, the party's international profile is being elevated through Bardella's appearance, positioning Reform within a broader European populist movement.
