Bit late to the show today, but I watched a chunk of the Reform conference earlier and, honestly, I was impressed in a few ways. Farage has clearly dropped the overly jolly pub-banter persona and stepped things up. The staging, the people behind him, and the overall tone all felt more deliberate, like an acknowledgment that Reform wants to be taken seriously now, not treated as a protest sideshow.
What I really liked was the willingness to take any question, however uncomfortable, and actually answer it. No polished evasions, no dead-air waffle, just direct responses. That alone was refreshing. I also liked that he didn’t hide his senior figures away. Letting people like Jenrick be properly questioned and making it clear they have to speak for themselves, it sends the right message, eg "if you’re here to represent, you’re accountable." also, lines about respecting taxpayers’ money didn’t feel like empty slogans for once.
I’d take this any day over the lying, dead-eyed deceiver we currently have in charge. And to be clear, if Farage ever starts pulling Starmer-style U-turns, he should be held to the same standard and booted out just as quickly.
Which brings me to Starmer, how the hell is he still there? I’ve genuinely lost count of the reversals now.
As Farage himself acknowledged, yes, some of this looks like gathering Tory defectors but at least they’re broadly credible. That’s still miles better than the amateur, parish-council-grade chancers dominating the Labour cabinet.
I also liked how Jenrick was challenged on his background and Farage simply let him answer. No shielding, no stage managing. The unspoken rule seemed to be "if you join, you’d better be able to justify who you are and what you’ve done." None of them were sweating it but you could see this was relatively unscripted non BS, which is wether you believe it or now how Farage seems to operate. (Or i am just a gullible starry eye'd mofo)
Overall, genuinely impressed. Well timed, well pitched, and landing at exactly the wrong moment for a visibly floundering Starmer.