Farage promises to join delegates on the booze at Reform UK conference

Reform UK are flogging £20 MAGA-style hats and £15 'Let's Save Britain' t-shirts, which are made in Bangladesh, as the party's conference began today.

The two-day event, being held at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, saw party leader Nigel Farage given a rapturous reception by activists.

As he arrived at the conference venue, the 60-year-old said he was looking forward to having a drink later. 'That's what normal people do,' he added.

Mr Farage said today's opening of the Birmingham gathering was 'the day our party comes of age', as it looks to build on winning five seats at July's general election.

The former UKIP leader has attracted a number of celebrity followers over the years and comedian Jim Davidson was seen queuing to enter the conference this morning.

Later on, adventurer Ant Middleton - who starred on TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins - addressed Reform members from the conference stage.

The party's open-top election battle bus was given pride of place in the venue's main hall, while - just outside - sat a London taxi bedecked in Reform colours.

The merchandise stand was selling caps with the slogan 'Let's Save Britain', in an apparent nod to Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' headwear.

T-shirts bearing the same 'Lets Save Britain' slogan were also on sale although, as first reported by the Daily Mirror, the clothing had been imported from Bangladesh.

Mr Farage vowed to build an 'election-winning machine' as he spoke to reporters shortly after arriving at the conference.

Setting out his aim to 'professionalise' his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labour in power at the 2029 general election.

He claimed the next few years could see a 'seismic sea change' in British politics although he admitted there was work to be done to overhaul Reform's structures.

During this year's general election campaign, Reform were forced to ditch a number of parliamentary candidates over offensive comments.

Mr Farage admitted the racism rows that hit the party in recent months 'damage the work of thousands of others'.

The Reform leader later received a standing ovation as he entered the main conference hall to a remix version of Diamonds by Rihanna.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Farage set out his efforts to 'professionalise' Reform.

'It means weeding out candidates that are totally inappropriate and damage the work of thousands of others,' he said.

'Let's face it, the last election a lot of those candidates hadn't been vetted at all. That has to change, that will change.

'It also means building a structure on the ground - that's a mixture of professional help but, clearly, it's the voluntary side in the end that will make it happen.

'What today is about is building branches, fielding candidates, fighting the county elections next year, it's about building an election-winning machine.

'The Lib Dems have done it in parts of the country and that's what we have to do.'

On Reform's chances of winning the next general election, Mr Farage added: 'I think if ever there's going to be a seismic sea change in politics, it's in the next few years.'

And asked if that could seen him become prime minister, he replied: 'Me or somebody other who is better looking.'

Mr Farage was set to use his keynote conference address on Friday afternoon to issue a 'clarion call for change'.