Nigel Farage: Reform UK ‘challengers’ for North East votes
Speaking at Reform UK’s Durham conference at Sunderland Live Arena in Houghton-le-Spring today (February 1), the leader commented that polls show Conservatives are “melting away” as his party soars in popularity.
Hundreds queued in cars and on foot outside the arena for admission to the conference that amongst its speakers saw Richard Tice, Dame Andrea Jenkyns and later Mr Farage take to the stage in his first visit to the North East since before the General Election.
Before his speech, Mr Farage indicated a “disenchantment” with party politics has made Reform UK Labour’s biggest competitor when it comes to securing votes in the region.
He told The Northern Echo: “Much of what I’ve done over the past six months has been behind closed doors which is unusual for me – but we have been putting structure in place.
“I am delighted with the way that is taking shape. I do think that there is a level of disenchantment with all political parties.
“If you look at the polls in the North East, we’re ten points ahead of the Conservatives, and only eight or nine behind Labour.
“We are now the challengers to Labour in the North East – Conservatives are melting away. We need to come up with a policy that makes people better off.
“The cost of living is a huge issue, perhaps more so here than in other parts of the country.”
When asked about issues Reform UK would campaign on in the North East, Mr Farage brought up transport and said added “pressure” would be placed on the Labour government should his party secure council seats this spring.
“The A1 needs to be dualled – all the way. I know that- everyone has known that forever,” he said.
“A big performance in these local elections from Reform UK will put the fear of god into the central Labour government.
“By doing well here, we could apply real pressure on the Labour government.”
In terms of what victory would be for Reform, Mr Farage said “a big percentage of votes” and “winning seats” but did not name a target number.
As for the candidates who will stand in the local elections themselves, it is understood that many are still being chosen with high standards.
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This comes after a string of Reform UK candidates have in the past been struck off for alleged racism – but according to Mr Farage anyone with those views is not welcome.
He said: “We are vetting all candidates for local government at a level that I don’t think any party in British political history has done before.
“We are not going to have extremists or nutters – we won’t have them. No thank you.”