Nigel Farage has said Reform UK is to host the “biggest ever” local and mayoral elections launch rally in modern British political history.
The leader of Reform UK has already appeared at rallies in Essex and County Durham this weekend as the organisation seeks support ahead of local and regional elections.
On Sunday (February 2), Mr Farage teased what he suggested would be a major announcement. Posting on X, he said: “At 5pm I will announce the biggest UK political rally in modern times.”
In a slick, promotional video posted on Mr Farage’s X account, the Clacton MP announced Reform UK would be launching its local and mayoral elections campaign at Utilita Arena Birmingham on March 28.
The venue can host a maximum of 15,800 people down to 2,464 for “more intimate events”, according to its website.
In an apparent dig at Reform’s only having five MPs, former Tory minister Steve Baker replied to Mr Farage’s initial post with a link to the UK Parliament’s “state of the parties” webpage, which details how many seats each party has in the Commons.
READ MORE ‘Bring it on’ -Reform MPs’ bullish reply as desperate Labour turns fire on Nigel
Get the latest politics news straight to your phoneJoin us on WhatsApp
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Nigel Farage welcomed two Tory defectors on stage in County Durham (Image: Getty)
Reform UK gained five seats in the July 2024 general election compared to Labour’s 402, the Conservative Party’s 121 and Lib Dems’ 72.
Despite its showing in Parliament, Reform UK is surging in Westminster voting intention polls, with seven major pollsters putting it ahead of the Tories for the first time.
The announcement follows Mr Farage revealing at a rally in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, that former Tory councillors Cathy Hunt and Joe Quinn had joined Reform UK.
Mr Quinn and Ms Hunt were former Durham County Council Tories. Their defection takes Reform’s councillor numbers in the local authority to three out of 163.
Reform has been holding a series of rallies across the UK as it hopes to win more council seats and constituencies in the devolved nations in the upcoming elections.
Nigel Farage greets the crowd in County Durham (Image: Getty)
At a rally on Friday (January 31), Mr Farage compared Reform UK’s rise in the polls with Donald Trump’s presidential victory in the US.
The rally, which heard speeches from four of Reform’s five MPs, came after a spat between Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Mr Farage over party membership figures during the Christmas period.
Mr Farage told Reform members on Friday that the Tories should be “bloody scared” of them as he spoke about the row with Mrs Badenoch.
The rally came as voting intention polls suggested the party has overtaken the Conservatives. One poll from Techne UK puts Reform in second place with 24%, one point ahead of the Conservatives on 23% and two points behind first-placed Labour on 26%.
The next general election has to take place no later than August 15, 2029.
