𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Nigel Farage must use the funding furore that blew up during Reform’s conference as an opportunity to reset the party. After a difficult few months that saw allegations about money dominate and poll ratings fall, the gathering in Birmingham was billed internally as the start of the “fightback”. But as members arrived for the main day, two officials stood down amid allegations the party breached political donation rules.

One of the aides, Dan Jukes, has been at Farage’s side for more than a decade and is his most loyal lieutenant. It is a huge blow to the Reform leader. In politics, an individual’s political capital rises and falls like stocks and shares. To have someone who sticks with you through everything for so long is a rarity and Farage will feel the loss deeply.

But now is the time to learn some major lessons if Reform is to build an operation that can weather the inevitable political storms. Firstly, the party will always be attacked from all sides and it must learn how to deal with that. It might not be fair and the tactics may be underhand but that is not going to change.

If you know that everyone will be after you, don’t give your enemies ammunition. Finances are always going to be probed so it is best to make sure you are absolutely squeaky clean. If there is nothing to report, then there are no rows to overshadow the other work you are doing.

One member attending the conference, Adrian Small from St Albans, summed it up perfectly. He said: “I don’t think these issues are a conspiracy, but there is certainly a desire to catch Reform out. I think they’ve basically allowed themselves to walk into a trap. They do need to be very aware of the fact of what the rules are, and need to adhere to those rules, and they’re there for a reason. I think it was naïve of them to do that.”

Secondly, sort out the basics. Organisationally, Reform is nowhere near where it needs to be. It is needlessly chaotic. A tiny tight-knit group at the very top has controlled everything since Farage became leader. But too often they have fought pointless wars internally and externally.

It is a waste of time and energy for all involved and does not advance their cause. There are some super bright backroom men and women who need to be allowed into the inner circle because nothing gets done if only one or two people have the authority to act and it will hold the party back.

Thirdly, the base is secure but to get to the next level the party has to broaden its appeal. Its Gatling Gun approach to politics fires up Reform’s most committed supporters but can be exhausting. To attract the waverers, the party needs to look and sound like it has a broad, deep and serious offer in terms of its people and its policies.

Some big name new signings are promised by Reform insiders over the next few weeks and that will be a good step towards settling the nerves of the undecideds.

But the party would do well to be really honest with itself about why those people have not already fallen in behind them and work out what it needs to do to win them over. At the conference, members were unconcerned about the donation row. But they were concerned about winning and wanted the focus to be on that goal.

What was clear was how frustrated so many people are with the direction the country is heading in. Migration and the cultural change that comes along with high and rapid demographic transformation was a key issue, but our ailing economy was also a major concern. Many ex-Conservatives were in attendance, not just former Westminster types but a significant number of councillors from across the country.

They talked about how switching parties after decades was a difficult decision but they felt they had no option. That weight is a lot to carry for one leader, but Farage has to make the right choices now to repay the trust that supporters have put in him.

Reform is a much more professional outfit than the previous parties he has led, but it still has a very long way to go.