Reform UK Conference 2025 – “The Next Step”

Today, Reform UK announced the defection of Former Conservative Shadow Minister Danny Kruger MP. Kruger has been one of the most prominent voices of the right of the Conservative Party in recent years and was hailed by some commentators as a potential future leader of the Party. Announcing his switch, Kruger declared the Conservatives as “over”, stating that Reform bears the “new torch of conservatism”. The party has immediately tasked Kruger with the job of leading Reform’s unit focusing on preparations for government, which will be no easy task.

There is no doubt that the Party continues to dominate the political landscape, with the populist party holding a consistent lead in the polls. However, there are questions over the depth of Reform’s policy platform and its viability as a party ready for Government.

Reform attempted to answer these questions at its party conference which was held in Birmingham last week. Over 5^th-6^th September, an estimated 6,000 delegates descended on the NEC for what was titled “The Next Step”.

I was on the ground for WA Comms and below are my key takeaways from my two days in Birmingham.

A party atmosphere – with controversy

The mood on the conference floor was buoyant. The structure mirrored that of other parties, set-piece leadership speeches supported by a limited fringe programme. But the real energy was in the ‘Members’ Village’ where regional stalls bustled with grassroots activists swapping campaign tips and celebrating local successes over a beer.

Farage closed the event with a call for unity and “discipline”, trying to present Reform as a professional outfit focused on assuming power. Yet that image was dented when controversial cardiologist and anti-vaccine campaigner Aseem Malhotra was given a keynote platform. His conspiratorial remarks forced Reform’s leadership into an awkward retreat, having initially claimed he was advising on health policy.

Levels of business engagement mixed

Unlike Labour or Conservative conferences, corporate presence was minimal. JCB, Heathrow Airport and Airbnb sponsored parts of the programme, but in general large firms stayed away. The absence of a large-scale business exhibition underlined the caution many companies feel about publicly associating with Reform. Party figures nonetheless urged business to engage with their developing platform, emphasising that the party open to engagement as it develops its policy platform.

Policy taking shape

Across panels and fringes, speakers claimed Reform would deliver economic growth by reducing regulation, cutting wasteful government spending and curbing immigration, though concrete policy detail remained limited. A new policy team led by Zia Yusuf, Reform’s Head of DOGE, was announced, and it has been tasked with shaping the Party’s wider platform.

Key influencers and external voices starting to emerge

Sympathetic think tanks played a visible role. The Growth Commission and Prosperity Institute both featured prominently, while the Centre for a Better Britain, led by Dr James Orr, has emerged as the key hub shaping Reform’s election platform.

Sector insights

• Health: Yusuf reaffirmed the NHS would remain free at the point of use a nod to Red Wall voters who are deeply protective of the principle – while signalling a greater role for private providers.
• Transport: Deputy Leader Richard Tice promised to scrap what he termed “HS Stupid 2” in favour of regional rail and bus investment, an idea advocated by a representative from the Liz Truss aligned Growth Commission. Aviation, meanwhile, was embraced. At Heathrow’s sponsored business reception, Farage announced plans for an Aviation Strategy to expand airports as engines of growth.
• Education & Skills: Schools and universities were denounced as “indoctrination camps,” while Yusuf promised the “most audacious skills programme in history” to train British workers for jobs that would otherwise be filled by migrants.
• Economy: Reform’s economic rhetoric focused on “performance-related tax cuts,” deregulation, and attacks on ESG pension investments as a “scam.” With £66bn in local government pension funds under Reform council control, this is an area where the party is already testing its agenda.
• Energy: “Drill Baby Drill” echoed throughout the conference. Reform pledged to rip up renewable contracts, scrap subsidies, and double down on oil and gas. Farage linked high energy costs to Britain’s competitiveness, a message amplified by climate-sceptic think tanks such as Net Zero Watch and the Heartland Institute.

Looking forward

There was a dual narrative emerging from the conference. On the one hand, Reform is energised by momentum and a highly motivated grassroots base. On the other, the party faces the challenge of balancing its appeal as Westminster ‘outsiders’, with the need to broaden its reach to more mainstream audiences. While Reform is currently riding high in the polls and some projections even suggest it could be the largest party in the House of Commons, based on current voting intention translation to a general election, the next election is still some way off. Sustaining this momentum, and translating it into durable support will be a critical test for the party.

For business, the takeaway is clear – Reform’s direction of travel is set, but the detail remains uncertain. A new policy development team is being established, and the party is actively seeking fresh thinking and ideas to shape its populist agenda. Reform knows the direction in which it wants to go, but it wants support in helping to get there. For firms, this signals an opportunity to engage early, before positions harden and the door closes.