Nigel Farage sought to reassure Reform UK supporters on Saturday that he can “fix” Britain, using a high-profile conference speech to steady activists amid slipping poll numbers and a growing row over party donations.
The former Brexit Party leader told delegates in Birmingham that he would work “relentlessly” to reshape the country, delivering a rallying message intended to energise the party faithful.
His arrival on stage was held up by additional security checks after a flag alluding to the controversy over his reported £5 million gift appeared in the venue.
When Farage eventually entered to pyrotechnics, the dramatic opening was almost immediately interrupted by a protester shouting from the audience.
“Boring, boring,” Farage responded as the woman was removed from the hall. Further interruptions followed, with several more people escorted out during the address.
Once he was able to continue, Farage brushed off the undercover “sting” in which he and senior allies were filmed speaking to people posing as donors, describing the episode as a “little local difficulty”. However, he conceded that James Orr and Dan Jukes — who stepped aside earlier in the day as policy chief and as Farage’s key aide — had made comments that could be regarded as unacceptable.
“I repeat, Reform has broken no law,” he told the conference.
The speech came shortly after Farage announced an agreement with French right-wing figure Jordan Bardella, promising a joint effort to stop small boat crossings in the Channel “forever”.
Mr Bardella told the Reform conference that if his National Rally party wins elections next year France will no longer be a ‘gateway for illegal migration into the UK’.
He joined Mr Farage on stage to sign a deal that would allow thousands of would-be migrants to be returned after entering British waters.
The agreement is at the heart of Reform’s vow to bring the crisis to an end within 100 days of taking power.
Mr Bardella told activists in Birmingham: ‘The English Channel must no longer be an immigration route to Dover and Folkestone.
‘The destination of illegal migrants entering France should not be the United Kingdom, they should be returned to their countries of origin.’
After walking on to fireworks, Nigel Farage had only just started speaking when a protester started shouting
Protesters repeatedly interrupted the speech by Mr Farage in Birmingham today
The protesters had to be forcibly carried out of the hall
Mr Farage’s appearance was delayed for security checks after a flag referring to his £5million gift controversy popped up on stage
He continued: ‘We must put an end to these deadly routes, we must break the smuggler business model and together we must take control of our borders.’
Thanking Mr Bardella, Mr Farage said he was forging a new ‘entente cordiale’ with France.
He said Reform and the National Rally were signing a memorandum of understanding on stopping the boats.
Announcing the pact, Mr Farage said: ‘We are about to sign an historic document that will stop the boats forever.’
The deal would see illegal migrants who crossed the Channel from France returned to the country by the Royal Navy.
‘This is a momentous agreement and shows that both Reform UK and the National Rally are serious about stopping the illegal migrant invasion, fixing our borders, and putting our own people first,’ the Reform leader said.
The National Rally is regarded by many as the favourite to win French elections next year. Mr Bardella is hoping to become prime minister, while Marine Le Pen is competing to succeed Emmanuel Macron as president.
Mr Farage has been using the conference to try to get back on the front foot, despite the furore over a donations sting that has forced two key aides to step aside.
French firebrand Jordan Bardella (left) told Nigel Farage (right) that his National Rally party is ready help close the Channel to small boats
Mr Bardella and Mr Farage signed a memorandum of understanding on ending the small boats crisis today
The Reform leader is declaring a ‘national emergency’ on his first day in government, introducing a flood of legislation and doing ‘anything and everything’ to deliver his party’s policies.
In a keynote speech later he will say: ‘Within days of winning the general election, we will introduce dozens of Bills and force Parliament to sit all through summer for seven days a week to pass them.
‘Britain is in serious trouble. We don’t have time to wait around to fix it.’
