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Christopher Hopes writes his analysis on Reform UK's annual conference

Where is Reform UK today? The party has certainly come on leaps and bounds since its first conference three years ago, when just over 1,000 supporters gathered over two days in London.

Fast forward to 2026, and the party's conference is of a different magnitude, with over 6,000 supporters gathering in two giant halls at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Corporate money is starting to flow, with companies like FirstBus, Heathrow and JCB paying for space, while the press pack now following the fortunes of this party have grown exponentially.

Party leader Nigel Farage has matched this growing interest with a slew of eye-catching policies.

The two that stand out are a deal with France's National Rally to take back migrants returned by Royal Navy ships if they win elections in France next year and a pledge to increase the tax-free income threshold to £15,000, benefitting tens of millions.

Both these policies will make Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Andy Burnham sit up and take notice.

On illegal migration, at last, here is a new idea to stop the boats altogether which might work.

And I can remember when Mr Burnham entered Parliament with a pledge to look at the tax-free allowance after it was raised repeatedly on the doorstep at the Makerfield by-election – only to walk back that pledge on entering No10.


Which makes it all the more disappointing that the party has allowed itself to be tarnished with another scandal around party financing.

This used to be the preserve of the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Now it is also a problem for Reform, which was meant to be the party which was doing politics differently.

The revelations by Channel 4 won't affect the fervour with which Mr Farage's disciples love their messiah.

But they might put off potential voters who are considering voting for Reform at the next general election. And that should worry him.

In an interview with me for GB News, which aired on the channel on Saturday, Mr Farage disclosed that he had been through a period of doubt about his future at Reform this summer.

"I didn't come close to quitting, but I certainly had a very difficult time with my family, who have always supported me," Mr Farage said.

Perhaps hopefully, the Reform UK leader added: "That really upset me over the summer. I just hope they come to terms with it."

Mr Farage used the interview to reiterate his belief that there will be a general election in the spring of next year – and that he will take the party into the next election.

When I asked how ready he was, he said "80 per cent", adding that "I've still got to find some big spokesmen for areas like health, defence, and I'm working on that".


The hope for his supporters is that he will use the scandal over a potential donor – which led the suspension of two top aides – to restructure the team around him to avoid more mistakes.

The thousands of Reform UK supporters heading home this weekend after their conference deserve nothing less.