'I don't like this Musk chap': Reform members say they're unbothered by spat
Even by the standards of the Reform UK party, it has been an interesting few weeks.
In December, its leader Nigel Farage flew to Florida to meet Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire, where they discussed a possible donation.
On Boxing Day, it announced its membership figures had surpassed those of the Conservatives. There was then a spat with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over whether those numbers were correct.
Last Sunday in a post on his social media site X, Musk unexpectedly appeared to withdraw support from Farage saying he "doesn't have what it takes" to lead the party.
And on Friday, 10 Reform UK councillors in Derbyshire resigned from the party, in protest at Farage's leadership.
Reform UK members gathering on an icily cold Friday evening at Sandown Racecourse for the party's South East conference weren't disheartened by the possible loss of a rich and influential backer.
"I don't like this Musk chap," says Gloria Jane Martin.
She worked in cabin crew for British Airways until she reached the point where "I never wanted to meet passengers again" and started investing in property and campaigning in politics instead.
"He [Musk] has been dangling the money. I'm worried there would be strings attached, that he would demand some policies.
"I think Reform got away lightly... Nigel has handled it diplomatically. I don't think he can afford to have Musk too close.
"He is destructive, he could destroy Reform."
There are about 850 attendees at Sandown, according to the organisers, who say it was a sold out event.
Among them is Howard Ward from Winchester, who has switched to Reform from the Conservatives.
Like many here he is not bothered about Musk. "Let him talk away," he says.
Kevin Burrell doesn't think Musk is "being serious" and even if he is, it doesn't matter. "We've got Candy... he is going to do wonders."
Nick Candy is the party's new treasurer. He is a property tycoon, the husband of former pop singer Holly Valance and until recently was a donor to the Tories.
Beverley Newman is here with her partner Eve Wilkinson. She agrees that Candy will be important but adds that the party can raise a lot from the membership.
"Musk won't make any difference to his [Farage's] popularity," says Kirshanda from West Sussex. "I thought he handled that beautifully. He wasn't prepared to bend."
Musk hasn't explained his reasoning, but Farage said the pair had a disagreement because Musk wanted Reform to "come out strongly in support" of Tommy Robinson.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
The former head of the far-right English Defence League admitted in court to breaching an injunction against repeating claims about a Syrian refugee schoolboy after losing a 2021 libel case.
Farage left his former party UKIP in 2018 saying its association with Robinson had brought "scuffles" and "violence" to the party.
He has ruled out Robinson being allowed to join Reform UK.
Party members at the event at Sandown talk seriously about electoral success, and while many express sympathy for Robinson, they understand why he might be politically unpalatable.
"Whatever happens with Tommy, his heart is in the right place but he will never be forgiven by the mainstream media," says Kevin Burrell.
"Much as I admire what he's doing I can understand why Reform don't support him.
"If you end up in a slanging match over that, you will end up with the Tories or Labour."
Jackie Collett says she doesn't know "what is making Nigel dig is heels in" but adds that Robinson is a "loose canon".
She says she is a realist and acknowledges that Reform might "disappear into the wilderness" but for now she says it is "the only party that gives me hope to go out in the morning".
As the evening progresses, news emerges about the 10 Reform UK councillors in Derbyshire who resigned, arguing the party was being run in an "increasingly autocratic manner" and had "lost its sense of direction" since Farage took over.
Farage later told BBC Newsnight the group were a "rogue branch" of the party who had not "passed vetting".
The group's leader, Councillor Alex Stevenson, who was suspended as a member in December, and who stood for Reform UK in Amber Valley in the general election, did not deny that some of the candidates he put forward for local elections had not passed the party's vetting process.
There is no mention of the resignations at the conference, instead members are invited to cheer two councillor defections from the Conservatives to Reform.
And there is little public sign of discontent with Farage, although one member whispers his unease.
Preferring not to be named, ("I don't want to be thrown out") he says, "Farage doesn't necessarily have what is needed".
"He's quite egotistical. Rupert Lowe would be my preference. He's been hard at work, asking questions in Parliament. Nigel isn't around as much."
On Robinson, he suggests Farage "shouldn't be quite so critical".
Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, isn't a household name but it is one that crops up unprompted throughout the evening.
Graham Croft-Smith expresses a little disappointment that Lowe isn't speaking at the event. "He's a true statesman," he says.
Lowe is not there but some of the party's other big names are, including MP and party founder Richard Tice and Chair Zia Yusuf.
Yusuf begins his speech by welcoming "all you fake Reform members" - a reference to Kemi Badenoch's scepticism over the membership numbers.
London Assembly Member Alex Wilson asks how many in the audience spent Boxing Day watching the party's membership counter tick over.
"Yes!' shouts a woman from the audience.
Last month, a digital tracker on Reform's website showed its membership numbers overtook the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservatives in 2024.
Reform UK was originally called the Brexit Party but these days Brexit only gets a few mentions.
The big themes include opposition to net-zero policies, support for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, the economy and the possible postponement of local elections in May.
More than half of the county councils due to have elections could ask ministers to delay the ballots, following a major shake-up of local government.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said it would be "ludicrous" to hold elections for councils that were due to be reorganised.
However, the subject has infuriated Reform UK members, many of whom hope the May elections could see the party make electoral gains.
Blogger Liza Martin-Pope says it is why she decided to attend the conference this evening adding: "I'm missing my dancing for this."
She argues that the potential delays amount to "removing access to local democracy for local people."
"These authorities are running scared."
Eve Wilkinson is similarly furious. "It's disgusting, totally undemocratic, absolutely out of order. It incenses me," she says.
Caroline Burford-Pugh, her husband Richard and their friends Charlotte and Matthew Lubbe have come to the event together.
They are new members, new to politics and Caroline says she puts the chances of Farage being prime minister after the next election at 10 out of 10.
The party has prospered because of dissatisfaction with the Conservatives and disappointment with the early signs from Labour, says Luke Tryl from the research group More In Common, with ratings up from around 15 to 20%. But a general election is years away.
Whether the party can go from five MPs in 2024 to government remains to be seen, but whatever happens, it's clear there are party members still enthused by Reform's offer.
Activists gathering at a regional conference assess whether the US billionaire could help or hinder the party.
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