Nigel Farage has broken his silence after “relinquishing” his once untouchable grip over Reform UK as the populist party prepares to hold its annual conference in Birmingham.
The Clacton MP, who returned as Reform UK’s leader just weeks before the election, held a firm grip over the revamped Brexit Party until just a few days ago.
However, Farage is now keen to democratise the populist party following success on July 4 and after ex-deputy leader Ben Habib exerted enormous pressure to take bold action.
The new constitution, unveiled by chairman Zia Yusuf, includes a provision for members and MPs to potentially oust Farage as leader.
The 17-page constitution revealed that a vote on the leader can be triggered “by 50 per cent of all Members in Good Standing writing to the Chairman requesting a motion of confidence”.
A vote can also be called “by 50 Members of the Parliamentary Party or 50 per cent of the Members of the Parliamentary Party (whichever is greater), writing to the Chairman and requesting a motion of no confidence”.
However, this only applies if there are more than 100 MPs in Parliament. Currently, there are only five Reform UK MPs.
Breaking his silence on the revamped constitution last night, Farage said: “I no longer need to control this party. I’m going to let go.
“We will change the structure of the party from one limited by shares to a company limited by guarantee.
“And that means that the members of Reform that will own the party.
“I’m relinquishing control of the company and indeed of the overall control of the party.”
Farage yesterday claimed between 3,500 and 4,000 Reform UK members would descend on Birmingham for its two-day conference.
The 60-year-old Brexit stalwart will deliver the closing speech from today’s proceedings in what many hope will propel Reform UK forward into the 2025 Local Elections.
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What to expect from Reform UK’s annual conference
Reform UK’s conference will see around 4,000 members descend on Birmingham for two days of speeches and fringe events.
South Basildon & East Thurrock MP James McMurdock will kick off the speeches just after midday.
Ex-Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ star Ant Middleton will follow ahead of a short lunch break.
Rupert Lowe, Lee Anderson and Richard Tice’s speeches will soon follow, with Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf appearing on stage just days after unveiling Reform UK’s constitution.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will provide the closing speech before members head off to a number of fringe events.