Nigel Farage, the prominent leader of Reform UK, has announced he is stepping down from owning the party as it gears up for a significant overhaul at its upcoming conference in Birmingham. Farage revealed that he will surrender his controlling shares in the party, allowing members to take greater control over its future direction. However, despite relinquishing ownership, Farage has made it clear he intends to remain the leader of the party, potentially guiding Reform UK into the next general election.
Farage explained that when Reform UK, originally launched as the Brexit Party, was established, it was structured as a private limited company. This allowed him to fast-track the party’s creation in time for the 2019 European elections, where the Brexit Party achieved considerable success. The structure also gave Farage the ability to maintain control and protect the party from “bad people” attempting to hijack its mission.
Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Farage explained that he no longer feels the need to be in control of the party’s ownership, stating, “I no longer need to be in control of Reform, so I’m surrendering all of my shares.” However, he confirmed that he will continue to lead the party unless “someone better looking and brighter comes along.”
Reform UK’s Upcoming Overhaul
Reform UK, which secured 14% of the vote in July’s general election, has recently made its first foray into Parliament with the election of five MPs, including Farage himself. As the party prepares for its conference, Farage highlighted the importance of transforming how the party operates. For the first time in its history, members will be able to vote on key policy motions and adopt a new constitution. This new framework will establish the responsibilities of the leadership and introduce mechanisms for holding them accountable.
Under the new Reform UK constitution, party members will be empowered to initiate a vote of no confidence against the leader or other key figures if 50% of the membership submits a written request to the chairman. A similar process will apply to MPs, but only if the party reaches a substantial parliamentary presence of at least 100 MPs—a target that remains ambitious for the time being.
Membership Surge and Future Plans
Reform UK has witnessed a significant surge in membership following its electoral success. According to Zia Yusuf, the party’s chairman, membership numbers have increased by 15,000 since the general election, bringing the total membership to over 80,000. Yusuf, who joined the party’s leadership in July, believes that the rise in enthusiasm is a sign that Reform UK is building a solid base of grassroots supporters. He has also indicated that the number of Reform members could soon surpass that of the Conservative Party, which had around 140,000 members during the last leadership contest in 2022.
The party is now focusing on strengthening its infrastructure across the country, with plans to establish local branches and grow its pool of activists. Yusuf, a millionaire former banker, has committed to leading this effort and converting the current wave of enthusiasm into electoral success. “What we need to do now is build the infrastructure at grassroots level so that enthusiasm can be converted at the ballot box,” he said.
While Reform UK has made strides since its rebranding, the political landscape remains challenging. However, with Farage still at the helm and a growing base of supporters, the party looks set to continue its fight for influence in the UK’s political system.
