Reform UK's annual conference continues in Birmingham today, with speeches from Lee Anderson, Zia Yusuf, Robert Jenrick and others, before Nigel Farage takes to the stage for the closing remarks. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The conference has been overshadowed by a scandal involving senior Reform figures caught in an undercover sting discussing potential foreign donations, prompting the suspension of two senior aides and renewed scrutiny of the party's finances.
Yesterday, Farage's keynote speech was interrupted multiple times by protesters. Footage published by The New Arab showed a mob of Reform supporters assaulting hecklers. The protesters could be heard raising the issue of an undeclared £5m gift to Reform.
Turmoil engulfs Reform conference
According to a report by The Guardian journalists Rowena Mason, Ben Quinn and Pippa Crerar, the row comprehensively overshadowed the first full day of the party's conference, with every Reform politician repeatedly questioned over the scandal.
The report also exposed splits at the top of the party, with Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesperson, strongly distancing himself from Jukes and Orr. He told reporters "anyone who supports Reform is disappointed", and added of the investigation: "It's just not something I am personally involved in."
Yusuf also launched a personal video about his backstory, leading to speculation he could attempt to run for the leadership as a rival to Robert Jenrick or Richard Tice if Farage were to be forced out over his financial scandals.
However, some Reform insiders are convinced Farage will part company with Yusuf before long, partly over his ambition and combative style on social media, including one post on X that saw him accused of racism towards a Somalia-born Labour councillor. Farage is understood to have used a rude term about Yusuf recently in relation to his troublemaking on social media.
Suspensions and investigation
Jenrick, Reform's treasury spokesperson, said James Orr, the party's head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to Farage, have been "permanently suspended", telling Times Radio: "There is obviously due process, and so there is going to be an investigation, and we want to learn all the facts, give them obviously a right of reply." Neither Orr nor Jukes have commented on the allegations.
Farage had earlier suspended two close aides. Farage appeared to laugh off the incident of violence at the conference, according to The New Arab.
We'll be bringing you the latest from the conference throughout the day, including the key speeches, reaction and any developments.