Reform UK has announced a significant achievement, claiming its membership now exceeds the Conservative Party’s. On Boxing Day, the party declared it had reached 131,680 members — just surpassing the Conservative membership count recorded during Kemi Badenoch’s leadership election in the autumn.
The milestone was marked with a provocative stunt: a message projected onto the Conservative Party’s headquarters in the early hours, declaring Nigel Farage’s party the “real opposition” to Labour.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, celebrated the achievement, describing it as a “big, historic moment.” Speaking about the party’s surge, Farage said, “The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world. Reform UK is now the real opposition.”
Farage has experienced a resurgence in popularity since the last general election. According to recent opinion polls, he has become one of the UK’s most well-known and polarizing political figures. While he frequently scores highly among those with a favorable opinion, he also ranks prominently among those with negative views.
A recent Ipsos survey revealed that Farage’s net favorability rating outperformed that of both Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This growing support underscores Reform UK’s ambition to disrupt the traditional two-party dominance in British politics.
Reform UK’s chair, Zia Yusuf, added to the celebratory tone, suggesting that Farage’s political influence could extend even further. “History has been made today, as the centuries-long stranglehold on the center-right of British politics by the Tories has finally been broken,” Yusuf stated.
Reform UK is now turning its attention to next May’s council elections, aiming to expand its elected base and replace Conservatives in key areas. The party’s momentum appears to be building, with membership growth far surpassing the peak of Farage’s former party, UKIP, which had around 46,000 members at its height.
Farage outlined his vision for Reform UK’s future: “A vote for Reform this coming May is a vote for real change. Only Reform UK can hold Labour to account and deliver for the British people.”
Membership in traditional political parties has been declining for decades. In the 1950s, the Conservative Party boasted 2.8 million members, while Labour had about 1 million. In comparison, today’s numbers are far smaller.
Labour currently has around 366,000 members, while Conservative membership fluctuates between 130,000 and 170,000.
The dramatic reduction in party membership has left room for newer parties like Reform UK to gain traction, particularly among disillusioned voters.
Conservative Party Fires Back
In response to Reform UK’s announcement, a Conservative spokesperson dismissed the party’s claims of being an alternative to Labour. “Reform has delivered a Labour government that has cruelly cut winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners, put family farming at risk, and launched a devastating raid on jobs,” the spokesperson said.
“A vote for Reform this coming May is a vote for a Labour council. Only the Conservatives can stop this.”
Conservative spokesperson
Despite the criticism, Reform UK continues to position itself as the leading challenger to both Labour and the Conservatives, with Farage leveraging his public profile to solidify the party’s standing.
Beyond his leadership of Reform UK, Farage has hinted at playing a broader role on the international stage. He expressed a willingness to assist Labour’s Peter Mandelson, the UK’s new ambassador to the United States, in fostering relations with President-elect Donald Trump.
Farage and Trump share a long-standing friendship, and Farage believes his involvement could benefit the national interest.
“I am no fan of any of the people in the Labour party. But if it is in the national interest, I have always thought I could be a useful asset if they want to use that. But if they don’t, more fool them.”
Nigel Farage
With Reform UK’s growing membership and Farage’s influence, the political landscape may be on the brink of significant change.
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