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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to speak at a press conference at 12pm (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage is set to make a major announcement at a Reform UK press conference today.
The Reform leader is expected to unveil 29 councillor defections in his speech in Westminster at midday.
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The press conference will also be attended by Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, deputy leader Richard Tice and Reform MPs Lee Anderson and James McMurdock.
It comes as the party has been at the centre of a civil war after Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe had the whip suspended and was reported to the police amid allegations over his conduct, which he denies.
A day earlier Mr Lowe questioned Mr Farage's leadership of the insurgent party in an outspoken interview.
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8 hours ago12:18 Katie Harris
'A vote for the Conservatives will be a wasted vote'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “As for the Conservatives, they’re going to be defending hundreds of seats they won in 2021, when they were right at the absolute peak of Boris Johnson’s then-success.
“But the level of betrayal for so many voters who voted Conservative in 2019 has been such that the party now stands frankly for nothing, it serves no particular purpose, and in many seats, particularly the 300 county council and unitary seats that are held by Labour, frankly a vote for the Conservatives will be a wasted vote, because we are the ones that will be challenging Labour.”
8 hours ago12:17 Katie Harris
Farage says local elections are Reform's 'first real electoral test' since last July
The Reform UK leader told the press conference: “This is our first real electoral test since the general election where we intend to prove that the polls are not virtual but that they are real.
“The political opportunity I think is pretty extraordinary.
"Labour have not exactly got off to a very good start and even if the Prime Minister is able to use his Brexit freedoms to stand much taller on the world stage than he would have done as EU members, it’s the real cost of living, it’s daily life, that is getting people down.”
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8 hours ago12:13 Katie Harris
Farage now up
Nigel Farage has kicked off his speech after being introduced to the stage by party chairman Zia Yusuf.
8 hours ago12:11 Katie Harris
Reform chairman takes to the stage
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has opened the press conference.
He told attendees: "We have a very special announcement for you today that underscores the stunning momentum that Reform has had since the general election last year.
“Make no mistake, in the last eight months Reform has delivered the most historic acceleration politically in British history.
"We’ve surged from 14% support to 26% nationally in the average of the polls, we’ve signed up 160,000 new fully paid-up members, we’ve opened 400 branches, we’ve held 30 events enjoyed by tens of thousands of attendees across this great country.
“And all of this has been achieved with a fraction of the resources of the two old parties and it’s been achieved in just eight months.
"But behind the scenes we’ve also been working incredibly hard to build an election machine that will enable us to stand in the tens of thousands of elections that are coming up over the next few years.”
8 hours ago12:02 Christian Calgie
Dozens of seats on stage for Farage speech
I’m here at the National Liberal Club’s grand leather-bound library where there are 33 seats set out behind the Reform UK lectern.
Word is Nigel Farage is about to announce 29 councillor defections, which by my memory would be the largest single defection in British political history.
The Reform leader told the Express yesterday that he’s aiming for 200 council seats, though take this with a healthy pinch of salt as most party leaders usually claim their sights are low in order to play expectation management.
Empty chairs on stage ahead of Nigel Farage's speech (Image: EXPRESS)
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8 hours ago11:56 Katie Harris
Farage to unveil 29 new councillor defections Nigel Farage will reveal 29 councillors have switched to Reform UK ahead of the local elections in May.
A description on Reform’s YouTube live stream reads: “Nigel Farage welcomes 29 new Cllrs to Reform UK ahead of May’s local election campaign.”
9 hours ago11:44 Katie Harris
What is Farage's speech about?
Reform has billed a "special announcement" at the press conference but we don't yet know what it is.
Nigel Farage could unveil the party's candidate for the upcoming Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
The Reform leader could also reveal a new defection to their ranks.
9 hours ago11:36 Katie Harris
Farage's speech comes amid Reform civil war
Nigel Farage will be hoping to move on from the row over Rupert Lowe with his speech today.
The Great Yarmouth MP was suspended by the party earlier this month amid allegations of workplace bullying and threats of violence against the party's chairman, Zia Yusuf, which led to a police investigation. Mr Lowe has strenuously denied the claims.
Tensions had emerged when Mr Lowe suggested Reform remains a "protest party led by the Messiah" under Mr Farage in an interview.
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9 hours ago11:32 Katie Harris
Farage to make announcement at midday
Nigel Farage is due to make an announcement at a Reform UK press conference in Westminster at midday.
He will be joined by Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, deputy leader Richard Tice and MPs Lee Anderson and James McMurdock.
I will make an announcement from Westminster at midday today.
Watch LIVE on X from 12pm. \u2705 pic.twitter.com/RhlIokR0Lt
\u2014 Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) March 17, 2025
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