Farage's Reform UK Grows Amid 2027 Election Preparation

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party is gaining significant momentum in British politics, currently leading in polls ahead of Labour and Conservatives, and preparing for power as early as a 2027 general election. The party recently held its largest conference in Birmingham, attracting around 10,000 to 12,000 members, where Farage emphasized the need to professionalize the party and prepare it to govern, including setting up a department to manage this transition. Reform UK has also seen high-profile defections from the Conservative Party, including former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, signaling Conservative decline and internal challenges. Farage, inspired by his recent visit to the U.S., criticized British online censorship and called for stronger immigration policies, pledging to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. He warned that financial market pressures on the Labour government could precipitate an early election, noting Labour's internal crisis and potential splits. The party aims to make significant gains in upcoming local elections in 2026, especially in Scotland, Wales, and London, with ambitions to replace the Conservatives as a national force.