Farage urges Reform UK to prepare for early election after Rayner resignation

Nigel Farage told members of Reform UK they must be ready for an early general election after the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, saying Labour was on the verge of a major split and that the party must prepare to govern.

Speaking at the Reform UK conference at Birmingham's NEC, Farage went on stage three hours earlier than scheduled following Rayner's resignation and told cheering supporters, "We're about to witness a big rift in the Labour Party. I think there's every chance now of a general election happening in 2027 and we must be ready for that moment."

Farage announced the creation of a new department within the party to prepare for government and named former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf as head of policy. He said he would "set out some serious cuts to the welfare budget" in the near future and pledged that, if elected, his party would "stop the boats within two weeks" and would scrap what he described as "harmful, wasteful" net zero policies.

The Reform leader argued a contest in 2027 had become more likely because Labour was heading towards internal conflict and because left-wing members could defect to a new party reportedly being set up by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Journalists and party observers say there are few signs so far of large-scale defections to a Corbyn-led formation.

Farage's remarks came amid heightened political uncertainty after Rayner's departure from the deputy prime minister role. He used the unexpected timing to press his case for Reform UK as a government-in-waiting and to outline a strategy aimed at capitalising on perceived divisions within Labour.

Reform UK has positioned itself on a platform of immigration controls, welfare cuts, and opposition to current net zero policy measures. The party's acceleration of preparations for government, including its new policy unit and public pledges on welfare and border measures, signals an intent to present a detailed agenda should an election be called.

Analysts noted that while Farage sought to portray Labour as fracturing, the scale and timing of any electoral opening remain uncertain. Polling and internal party dynamics will determine whether Labour's reported tensions translate into a significantly earlier general election or substantial shifts in voter allegiance.

At the conference, supporters responded enthusiastically to Farage's remarks, and the leadership move to appoint a policy chief was framed as a practical step to make Reform UK electorally credible. The party has previously struggled to convert media presence and protest-style campaigning into sustained electoral success.

The coming months are likely to see intensified scrutiny of Labour's internal cohesion and of Reform UK's capacity to present a coherent governing platform. Farage's public timetable and policy promises set clear markers for both opponents and potential supporters as the party prepares for an uncertain political calendar.