As Reform UK closes in on overtaking the Tories with its burgeoning base of grassroots supporters, GB News asks its members if Nigel Farage is effectively Leader of the Opposition.
Having only exceeded 100,000 members in late November following the defection of ex-Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has looked to rapidly grow the revamped Brexit Party.
Reform UK now appears on a one-way path to surpassing Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, sitting less than 10,000 members behind the Conservative Party on just over 123,000.
Despite returning just five MPs on July 4, Farage now appears as an insurgent opponent of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
Opinion polls suggest a three-way split between the Tories, Labour and Reform UK, likely resulting in a hellish hung parliament.
However, the Tory Party continues to maintain its place as the main opposition party after returning 121 MPs to the House of Commons.
A major test could come in May when Local Elections across much of Tory-held England could return hundreds of Reform UK councillors.
The rise of Reform UK has been long-documented, with the populist party amassing just 40,000 members when Farage returned as leader ahead of the 2024 General Election.
Is Reform now the true opposition party in the UK?
PA/REFORM UK
The return of Farage gave Reform UK a 25,000 boost in just four weeks, with the total figure hitting 75,000 in August 2024.
Reform UK is now focusing its efforts on filling its coffers ahead of the 2029 General Election.
Nick Candy, who defected from the Tories late last year, even met with Elon Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home after the Tesla CEO was rumoured to be considering bankrolling the populist party.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government had initially been mulling over ways to prevent Musk’s donation.
Despite opening the door to changing rules around donations in the future, Commons Leader Lucy Powell later confirmed Starmer has no “immediate plans” to introduce such changes.
And a series of major defections will keep eyes on Reform UK.
Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie and Suella Braverman’s husband Rael became the latest big beast to join Reform UK.
Reform UK also handed former Tory mega-donor Sir John Hall the title of Life President after the ex-Newcastle United owner switched support earlier this year.
Is Reform UK now the true opposition party in the UK? Vote now and have your say in the comments section below.
