Nigel Farage has admitted Reform UK needs to “energise” its supporters after a “difficult summer”, as he addressed a sparsely attended party event in Westminster.
The Reform leader said he remained optimistic despite a series of controversies and a fall in the party’s poll ratings. The latest Ipsos survey put Reform 12 percentage points behind Labour and four points behind the Conservatives.
Mr Farage was speaking as his party unveiled an alternative “teal” Budget ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget on Wednesday.
Asked whether voters were losing interest in Reform after its initial surge following the 2024 general election, Mr Farage said: “Markets are volatile. Markets go up, markets go down.”
“We’ve had a difficult summer, of that there is no doubt. But are we optimistic – yeah,” he added. “A lot of our voters are just sitting back on their heels at the moment. Our job is to energise them and get them back.”
He suggested that a general election fought on Europe and immigration could help mobilise the party’s supporters, saying: “And maybe a general election in which Europe and immigration are top of the agenda may be just the thing to do that.”
His comments came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham floated the prospect of Britain returning to EU free movement rules, or even rejoining the European Union, after the next general election.
Mr Farage was also questioned about the number of empty seats at the event, which was held on a Monday afternoon. He blamed the poor attendance on what he called “staff incompetence”.
“It’s all well and good advertising to businesses but, on Mondays, people who run businesses tend to be rather busy,” he said.
“No doubt many of those that are here, it’s going to cost them a very great deal of money to have given up their day to come and visit us here in London.”
Mr Farage added: “As you know, our party conferences etc. we get crowds like no other British political party has done in modern times.”
Earlier, Robert Jenrick, Reform’s Treasury spokesman, set out 64 job-creating policies as part of an “Economic Rescue Plan”. The proposals include support for the Rosebank oil field and other North Sea projects, a wider return to imperial measurements and a ban on low-traffic neighbourhoods.
Mr Jenrick accused the Government of preparing a “manana budget” and said Reform would bring forward more than 60 measures in its first Budget to stimulate the economy.
“These common-sense policies cost the taxpayer nothing – it’s a no-brainer,” he said. “Reform UK has the plan to make the economy work again: spend less, tax less, borrow less and finally put the British people first.”
A Conservative Party spokesman mocked the attendance at the Reform event, saying it must be “cringingly embarrassing” for Mr Farage and Mr Jenrick to address a half-empty room.
The spokesman said Kemi Badenoch had addressed more than 300 activists at her pre-Budget press conference and claimed Reform had already adopted several Conservative policies for its proposed rescue plan.
“Now it looks as if they need to steal some of our activists to fill a room,” the spokesman added.
