HOPE not hate has previously detailed how Reform UK’s conference earlier this month revealed a party entranced by conspiracy theories and riven by internal division – with one of its own employees calling Reform’s Kent councillors “wankers” who “hate” and “fight with each other”.
Now we bring you the best gossip from the conference…
On 22 August, Enoch Powell fan Michael Hadwen announced that his time as Reform’s Director of Campaigns and Training has come to an end. Quite why Hadwen has jumped or been pushed from the party remains a mystery.
A source tells HOPE not hate that, speaking with a group during the conference, one friend commented to the former senior Reform staffer: “Why Michael needs to come back on double salary.” An apparently disgruntled Hadwen replied: “Well, yes, quite right.” Best of luck, Michael.
Last month, the Guardian revealed that Jack Anderton – an adviser used by Reform leader Nigel Farage and Hull and East Yorkshire mayor Luke Campbell to boost their social media popularity – has suggested that Britain would be better off having not fought Nazi Germany in the second world war and that the UK could “regain” former colonies in a future world of “meritocracy”.
In response to the revelations, Reform distanced itself from Anderton, saying he is not employed by either the party or Campbell.
But Anderton clearly remains part of the fold. Walking around Reform’s conference, he was donning a fancy AAA pass (Access All Areas) – something quite hard for ordinary members to get their hands on.
Shortly before the conference, HOPE not hate reported on the shocking social media activity of Reform’s ‘donor manager’, James Catton, who said “we need to deport 10m people” in a YouTube comment and shared racist and extreme far-right content on X (formerly Twitter).
While Reform didn’t respond to HOPE not hate’s request for comment at the time, the party does seem to have taken at least some action in response to the revelations.
On 17 August, Reform announced that it is selling its own football shirts. In the promotional video Reform posted on social media and to its merchandise website, Catton appeared alongside a female model showcasing the shirts.
At the stand selling Reform’s shirts and other merchandise in the conference’s main arena, the same promotional video was displayed.
Mysteriously, however, while the video still showed the female model and Catton’s body, there was no sign of the racist Reform staffer’s face, which appeared to have been edited out.
GB News presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg has been clear that he’s “not defecting” to Reform UK. But that didn’t stop him taking an interest in the party’s football shirts.
On the conference’s second day, Rees-Mogg went up to the merchandise stand – positioned next to the area for media, who apparently failed to notice – to purchase one of the party’s shirts.
HOPE not hate understands, however, that this isn’t a sign of Rees-Mogg’s pending defection, as he was buying it for his daughter Mary, who has joined Farage’s mob.
Perhaps it’s no bad thing for Reform that Rees-Mogg hasn’t defected as he certainly comes with some baggage. Not only has he opposed gay marriage and abortion (even in cases of rape), but he was also one of Liz Truss’ biggest cheerleaders, shortly before she crashed the economy.
HOPE not hate hears that one Reform councillor was particularly keen to avoid the media’s gaze.
On the conference’s first day, two journalists from Spectator TV – the right-wing mag’s video arm – went up to a table outside the bar in the main arena to ask if those sitting at it would be happy to be interviewed. Quick as a flash, Bassetlaw councillor Fraser McFarland stood up and left the table to make absolutely sure he didn’t have to speak to the journos.
Why might McFarland – who joined Reform back in June – have been so keen to keep a low profile? His previous run-ins with the media haven’t gone so well.
Back in 2020, when McFarland was working for the Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith, we revealed that he had shared an Islamophobic article. Following the revelations, the Conservatives immediately suspended McFarland pending investigation.
While McFarland was subsequently let back in by the party, trouble followed him again. Last year, he was expelled from the Tories after “an internal investigation into allegations of fraud and theft”.
Cllr Emma Griffin, leader of the Bassetlaw Conservative group, said: “If Reform UK are willing to hand over the keys to someone we expelled over serious allegations, the public has every right to ask: who else are they letting in?” Good question.
Last month Reform advertised its ‘sponsorship opportunities’ for the conference.
In what appeared a clear example of cash-for-access, the “most prestigious” opportunity on offer was a corporate “accelerator package”. In exchange for £250,000, a business could have bagged itself, among other things, “10 invitations to an intimate champagne breakfast with Nigel Farage”, a “meet and greet session with Nigel Farage MP and Zia Yusuf”, and “10 VIP Passes to the private area within the arena”.
Reform also promised any company willing to part with quarter of a million pounds for the privilege: “company colours and logo wrapped around the central Exhibition Bar” and “your logo on every delegate’s lanyard”.
Alas, no company appears to have wanted such a close association with Farage’s party. There were no company colours wrapped around the central bar and no business’ logo was to be seen on delegates’ lanyards.
We’re lifting the lid on the people and money behind Reform UK, and this is just the start. Reform Watch is a new newsletter from HOPE not hate, sent straight to supporters who want to know the truth about the party. Sign up now to get the next edition.
Prefer to listen? Click the play button to hear the audio version. Harry Shukman Reform UK is staffed by oddballs and enigmas, but none odder…
