Reform UK, often known simply as Reform, is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom. It has eight members of Parliament in the House of Commons, two members of the London Assembly, two members of the Senedd, one member of the Scottish Parliament, one police and crime commissioner, and previously one member of the House of Lords. It controls twelve local councils and is to the right of the Conservative Party. Nigel Farage has been leader of Reform UK since June 2024.
๐ Origins and Name Change
Co-founded by Farage and Catherine Blaiklock in 2018 as the Brexit Party, advocating a no-deal Brexit, it won the most seats at the 2019 European Parliament election in the UK but none at the 2019 general election. The party was renamed Reform UK in January 2021. Farage stepped down as leader in March 2021 and was succeeded by Richard Tice.
๐ณ๏ธ Electoral Performance and Defections
In March 2024, Lee Anderson, who was elected in 2019 as a Conservative MP, defected to Reform UK, becoming its first MP. In June 2024, Farage resumed the leadership, and the party won five seats at the 2024 general election, the first time it had elected MPs. In Northern Ireland, in March 2024, the party formed an electoral pact with the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV).
๐๏ธ Leadership and Structure
Farage stepped down as leader in March 2021, being replaced by the party chairman, Tice. On 3 June 2024 Farage replaced Tice as leader of the party. Following the election, on 11 July, the businessman Zia Yusuf replaced Tice as chairman of the party, with Tice, now an MP, replacing Ben Habib as deputy leader.
๐ Recent Developments and Membership
In November and December 2024, several high-profile Conservatives quit that party and joined Reform. On 26 December 2024, Reform UK claimed to have overtaken the Conservatives and become the UK’s second-largest party, behind Labour, in terms of size.
| Year | Event | Leader | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Founded as Brexit Party | Catherine Blaiklock | 0 |
| 2019 | European Parliament election | Nigel Farage | Most seats in UK |
| 2021 | Renamed Reform UK | Richard Tice | 0 |
| 2024 | General election | Nigel Farage | 5 MPs |