Jennifer McKiernan
Reporting from the conference

Image source, Reuters

Farage tells conference attendees he needs 5,000 vetted candidates in place for the next election, which he predicts could be in two years' time.

"We're about to witness a big rift in the Labour Party," he says, following Angela Rayner's exit.

"I think there's every chance now of a general election happening in 2027 and we must be ready for that moment."

Nigel Farage continues by saying the Conservatives will "not be forgiven" for their record in government, which he says involved "mass migrations", rising Channel crossings, "sky-high taxes" and other "betrayals".

In the middle of this "meltdown" of the two parties that have dominated UK politics for 100 years, there is a "new, strong, unified party", Farage says.

"We are the party on the rise," he says.

"I frankly, myself, couldn't believe just how well we've done."

Farage's words are in reference to Reform UK's growth since the 2024 general election.

He says the party has passed 240,000 members - up from 30,000, when they entered the last election.

The party's councillors have risen to over 900, starting with only a few last year, he adds.

Farage describes the current cabinet as full of "wholly unqualified" people".

He says this government is as bad "if not worse than the one that went before".

Jennifer McKiernan
Reporting from the conference

Farage has brought his speech forward to speak to supporters as soon as possible after Angela Rayner's resignation as deputy prime minister.

"You simply can't get away from being the housing secretary and avoiding £40,000 of stamp duty," he tells cheering supporters.

• We're providing full live coverage of Angela Rayner's resignation on our separate live page - follow that here

Image source, PA Media

Reform leader Nigel Farage is now making an earlier than anticipated appearance at his party conference in Birmingham.

He waves to the crowds before taking his place at the blue podium.

"We are all ships rising on a turquoise tide," he begins. "Headed ever closer towards winning the next general election."

He then makes reference to a "day of considerable news", adding that female politicians are "all the rage" at the moment.

Farage says the reason he moved his speech forward is because the government is "deep in crisis" and adds that the cabinet is "not fit to govern".

Nigel Farage is addressing Reform UK's annual conference as party leader.

We will have the key lines with you in this page and you can also follow along by pressing watch live above.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the conference

Reform UK conference delegates are rushing to get into the main hall, after it was announced on the tannoy system that Nigel Farage’s leader address would be brought forward.

We’re expecting his speech soon. He was originally scheduled to speak at about 16:00 BST.

Reform UK has not said why the timing has changed. Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns has just finished speaking on stage.

Stay with us.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the conference

This is pure political theatre. A tannoy announcement booms out across the cavernous NEC conference space announcing that Nigel Farage will be on stage in five minutes.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the mayor of Lincolnshire, bounds on to the stage singing “I’m an insomniac” and declares that she is a “rock chick” and it’s “time to unleash our inner Britpop”.

It’s hard to think of any other party that would tear up the conference running order like this, but that is typical of the Farage way of doing things.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the Reform party conference

Image source, Reuters

As Reform UK’s two-day conference in Birmingham kicks off, party leader Nigel Farage has written a welcome message in the agenda booklet.

Like a football manager’s pre-match programme notes, it’s designed to galvanise supporters and project a sense of optimism.

Pointing to the party’s lead in national opinion polls, Farage says Reform UK has “all the momentum in British politics”.

“It’s time for us to take the next step as a party, which is the theme of our conference this year,” Farage writes.

The party has been trying to take great strides in professionalising its operation since the general election last year. This conference will be a big test of their progress on that front.

We're expecting him to speak in the next 10 minutes or so.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the Reform party conference

Here at the party conference, the Reform merch stand is already doing a roaring trade, with party members queuing up to buy Farage-branded football shirts at £40 a pop.

Farage has been allocated squad number 10, naturally, with the rest of the team getting 29. What’s the significance of that number, I ask deputy leader Richard Tice.

“That’s the latest election year," he replies.

Didn’t he say there might be an election in 2027 this morning? “Well we hope it’s 2026,” he shoots back.

It’s fair to say the mood here is buoyant.

Image source, PA Media

Late last night, just hours before Reform UK members were set to arrive in Birmingham for their annual conference, Nadine Dorries said she would be joining Nigel Farage's party.

Dorries, the ex-MP for Mid Bedfordshire, told the Daily Mail: "The Tory Party is dead. Its members now need to think the unthinkable and look to the future."

Previously, Dorries served as culture secretary and as a health minister under Boris Johnson, of whom she was a close ally.

She is the latest in a string of defections from the Conservatives to Reform UK, including former Welsh Secretary David Jones and ex-Tory Chairman Jake Berry.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We wish Nadine well."

Image source, EPA

Nigel Farage is set to deliver the keynote speech at Reform UK's annual conference shortly.

Our reporters at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre will be feeding in fresh analysis, and you'll be able to follow the speech live here.