Reform UK’s conference, held in Birmingham, decided to give its members greater control of the party’s policies and leadership. Members approved a new constitution which was presented during the conference. The resolution had been debated and was passed unanimously raising hands. Nigel Farage, the leader of the party, took the stage and signed the new constitution, stating that the party has reached a new level, leaving its infancy behind and becoming a legitimately constituted political organization.
Reform UK managed to win 14% of the popular vote during the last general election in July 2021. With five MPs who are part of it, including Farage, the party was originally founded as a private limited company, with Farage holding most of the shares. However, the party has decided to reform and restructure, giving control to the members. This change will transform the party into a not-for-profit organization directed by the party’s new rulebook, with no shareholders.
The meeting members voted for a new constitution, which specifies the party’s rules and the mandates of leadership. This was the first policy motion where members could voice their opinions and vote. The new constitution states that the board and the leader are responsible for establishing the party’s policies, with members contributing to conferences to provide input. The Reform’s members will have the right to remove Farage or any other leader via a no-confidence vote. This will happen when 50% of all members call for a motion. Reform MPs will also be able to compel a vote if 50 of them, or 50 percent of them, write to the chairman asking for one — but only if the number of Reform MPs in parliament exceeds 100.
In his speech, Farage expressed the need to make the party more “professional”. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s current chairman, presented the new constitution to the crowd, mentioning that there would be no shareholders in the new and improved party-governance structure. The resolution was approved by most of the attendees in the conference, with only a few people raising their hands to vote against it
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