Reform UK courts City chiefs at Birmingham conference

Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party are turning Birmingham into a showcase for business outreach this week. Executives from finance, energy and technology will attend a packed programme of breakfasts, panels and a three‑course banquet, all designed to persuade them that the party’s radical policy agenda is worth supporting before the next general election.

The effort marks a departure from the party’s earlier, more populist style. Over the past month senior Reform figures have been hosting multiple City‑area breakfasts and West End dinners, often with three party officials at different venues on the same morning. Attendees told City AM that the engagement has been “very good” and that feedback has been positive.

Business‑focused agenda

At the Birmingham event, the party will host panels featuring blue‑chip names such as Google, Cadent Gas and Panmure Liberum. The agenda places business interests at the centre for the first time, with a dedicated Business Day that mirrors similar sessions run by Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems for years.

Ticket prices have been set deliberately low, about £780 for a two‑day pass, compared with the £2,425 charged by Labour for full access. The cheaper price has doubled commercial ticket sales year on year, and a separate dinner in the main hall has been sold out for over a month.

“They clearly do want to get business on board,” said the head of government affairs at a FTSE 100 firm.

Beyond the headline speakers, the conference will also see senior executives from Vodafone and Deliveroo on the panel line‑up, despite recent spats with Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf over immigration policy. Both companies have declined to comment on their participation.

Tensions and next steps

While the outreach has been welcomed, some business leaders remain cautious. A senior City worker noted that junior colleagues might view a meeting with Reform as an endorsement of a party that has faced scrutiny over crypto donations and controversial statements.

Reform’s decision to drop crypto‑related sponsors and panels this year appears to be a calculated move to distance the party from that volatility. No digital‑currency firms are listed among the sponsors, a sharp contrast to last year’s lineup that included Zebec and Aave Labs.

Looking ahead, Reform hopes the Birmingham conference will cement its reputation as the pro‑business alternative before the next election, which Farage has suggested could be called as early as 2027. Party officials are urging industry leaders to deepen dialogue now to avoid surprise policy proposals later.

If the outreach succeeds, Reform could challenge Labour’s traditional claim to the business vote and force the Conservatives to sharpen their own corporate‑friendly messaging. Conversely, any high‑profile clashes, such as Yusuf’s threats against Vodafone’s chief executive, could deter firms from further engagement.