Inside Reform UK conference and the real reason why nobody can steal Nigel Farage's crown

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GB News brings members the latest tittle-tattle from day two of Reform UK’s conference

“It’s Nigel,” came the cries from inside the NEC as Reform UK’s leader took to the party’s own interview stage.

Reform UK bigwigs from Robert Jenrick to Lee Anderson had already taken their seats for sit-down interviews with Jeremy Kyle.

The appearances had proved controversial from the outset, with one lobby journalist reportedly apoplectic that the TalkTV host had somehow bagged an interview after other reporters had been told, in no uncertain terms, that it simply wasn’t happening.

The journalist was soon told that Mr Kyle’s interviews were solely for Reform UK’s own social media channels.

But when Mr Farage appeared, it became abundantly clear who really owned the stage.

The crowds followed him around the NEC throughout Saturday’s proceedings.

At one point, a leading Reform figure found himself standing with just a couple of members, while the fanfare gathered around Mr Farage.

“Reform is nothing without Nigel Farage,” one well-connected attendee told GB News.

For all the talk of Mr Farage considering his future in frontline politics, the Reform UK leader continues to breathe life into the party – even at its lowest points.

The Channel 4 sting over Reform UK funding, which resulted in two senior aides quitting pending an investigation, had cast a shadow over the first day of conference.

But inside the NEC, among almost 6,000 Reform members, nobody seemed particularly interested in dwelling on it.

Reform insiders knew it, too: this was not a subject the party faithful were keen to discuss.

“It’s the elephant in the room, but the elephant has been left in the corner,” another replied.

But while many of the party faithful appeared unbothered, some of the more nervous insiders were keeping one eye firmly on the polling – and, more importantly, on the voters beyond the NEC.

For all the enthusiasm inside the conference hall, they knew the real test would come when the party had to take its message beyond its own ranks and convince the wider electorate.

“The videos were quite damning, but it’s over for now and we need to step it up a gear,” one insider said.

And Reform is already preparing for what comes next, with a push to bolster its ranks ahead of the next general election and increase its turquoise footsoldiers inside and outside party HQ.

Yet amid all the noise, speculation and scandal, one thing remained abundantly clear inside the NEC. Mr Farage is still king – or, depending on who you asked, messiah and saviour.

Boozy battle bus

The boozy battle bus was doing brisk business on day two, packed with policy wonks, party staffers and Reform insiders – alongside a growing number of dishevelled journalists still feeling the effects of a late night on the conference circuit.

GB News even spotted one impeccably dressed Reform staffer aboard for much of the day, surrounded by increasingly bleary-eyed hacks.

“Have you been on there all day?” they were asked. “I’ve also had meetings,” came the reply.

Party? What party?

Sky News, meanwhile, opted for the luxurious surroundings of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole for its Reform conference drinks – a mere stone’s throw from the NEC.

GB News, by contrast, held its party inside the conference hall, with Nigel Farage, Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman among those in attendance.

The Hilton bar only had to account for a handful of hacks, one industry insider told GB News.

And after all that, Sky was still left without an interview with Mr Farage.

GB News has a Boney M-oment

Sources close to GB News stars Christopher Hope and Katherine Forster said the pair spent much of the first night dancing to Boney M.

The group themselves had performed at Reform UK’s conference, so it was perhaps little surprise that their biggest hits provided the soundtrack to the evening.

Just moments after standing alongside Nigel Farage at the GB News party, Mr Hope appeared to get his dancing shoes on and make the most of the night.

By then, he was certainly living up to Boney M’s “Daddy Cool” – at least on the dancefloor.

The pair were up bright and early the next morning – and, to their credit, straight back to work.