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In Birmingham, Reform UK has begun its conference amid a wave of allegations that has forced Nigel Farage to suspend two of his top aides. The party hopes to get back on the front foot this afternoon with a press conference between the Reform UK leader and Jordan Bardella, a leading member of France’s National Rally (RN) party. Farage has made much of his relationship with Bardella. He claims that if Marine Le Pen wins control of the Élysée next spring, then her young male compatriot will serve as the French premier, working with a Reform UK government to stop the Channel crossings.
‘We have been working for several months with Nigel Farage to strengthen co-operation’, Bardella told The Spectator,’ shortly before the joint event. Reform is, ‘the only political party that has the courage, the determination and the lucidity to solve a problem they denounced before anyone else.’ He believes that the deal he will unveil today could not be agreed with the Labour government. ‘I give your new Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt, since he has only just arrived… but unfortunately I do not think there is much to expect in terms of the major changes that are needed to regain control and security over the Channel.’ He heaps praise on Farage, claiming ‘we speak the same language’ and placing huge emphasis on his personal character: ‘I hope he will one day be Prime Minister, because that will be the reward for a strong character.’
