Reform UK is actively “preparing for government”, its former chairman has said, as the party continues to fly high in the polls and the Labour government struggles with a series of crises.
Zia Yusuf has said the party was putting together a plan for running the country if it won power at the next election.
The party’s annual conference begins in Birmingham today.
It comes after former Conservative MP Nadine Dorries defected to Reform UK, claiming the Tory party was “dead.”
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Yusuf said: "Nigel (Farage) is preparing for government. We are taking seriously the important work of getting ready for government.
"We're not going to be like Labour, if the British people see fit to elect a Reform government, we will come into power with a plan."
A recent YouGov poll put the party on 28% - well ahead of second-placed Labour on just 20%.
On Wednesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was in the US to give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on the state of free speech in the UK and to meet with President Donald Trump.
Mr Farage cited incidents of perceived government overreach in policing speech, including the arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan for three “anti-trans” posts on X.
He claimed the appearance gave him “no joy”, but stressed “the big message got through”.
Last night, former culture secretary and health minister Ms Dorries broke the news of her defection in the Daily Mail ahead of the Reform conference.
She is the latest in a string of defections from the Conservatives to Reform, including former chairman Sir Jake Berry.
The move heaps further pressure on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, at a time when her party continues to trail Reform in the polls.
Ms Dorries told the Mail: “The Tory Party is dead. Its members now need to think the unthinkable and look to the future.”
She added: “My decision to leave the party I’ve served for more than 30 years is possibly the most difficult I’ve ever had to make, and it has taken me 12 agonising months to reach.”
Ms Dorries also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "The Conservative Party cannot win the next election. It removes election winning prime ministers, and replaces them with duds.”
Welcoming Ms Dorries to Reform, Mr Farage said: “She is a hugely successful politician, author and columnist and will be a great boost to our campaign to win the next General Election.”
