I was assaulted at Reform’s conference – the party celebrates attacks on women
Female climate activists faced physical violence during Nigel Farage's conference speech, while senior Reform figures responded with jokes or mixed remarks.
Reform UK's annual gathering in Birmingham has been overshadowed by allegations of escalating misogyny and party-sanctioned violence after female climate activists were physically assaulted during the leader's keynote address. The confrontation at the National Exhibition Centre on Friday, 5 September 2026, intensified scrutiny surrounding the party's internal culture and candidate vetting procedures following a string of separate controversies.
The disruption unfolded as Nigel Farage took to the stage following a security scare involving a stage banner. Activists from the group Climate Resistance stood up to shout down the Reform UK leader, drawing immediate hostility from nearby audience members. According to reporting from Metro and LBC, female demonstrators bore the brunt of the physical retaliation as they were removed from the auditorium.
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One activist, speaking anonymously under the name Charlotte, recounted being grabbed by the jaw and hair while being struck on the head with a cane. Another protester, Sally, described being dragged over rows of seats, having her shirt ripped, and suffering ongoing back pain and hair loss after a security guard allegedly stood on her hair during the eviction. The Mirror highlighted footage showing a grey-haired man hitting a protester with a crutch, an individual confirmed not to be part of the official event security team.
| Incident Detail | Protester Account | Party / Official Response |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Assaults | Activists dragged by hair, grabbed by the jaw, and struck with a walking stick or crutch. | Shadow Chancellor told critics to get a life; Chairman Lee Anderson launched a whip-round for a new cane while claiming he did not condone the behaviour. |
| Donation Scrutiny | Demonstrators shouted about illicit foreign funding and billionaires bankrolling the party. | Nigel Farage denied wrongdoing, stating compliance is taken seriously and pointing to his Clacton mandate. |
| Police Investigation | Footage circulated widely on social media prompting public concern. | West Midlands Police confirmed they are aware of the video under log number 924 of 5 September 2026, and urged victims to come forward. |
Senior figures within the party offered mixed responses to the altercations. While Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf stated he condemned punching people, other prominent figures defended the aggressive expulsions. Former Conservative Cabinet Minister Nadine Dorries, who defected to Reform, told The Mirror that disruptors could not expect gentle treatment
and called their presence shocking. Meanwhile, Reform Chairman Lee Anderson called for a whip-round to purchase a new walking stick for the man who struck the demonstrator with his cane, though he added a disclaimer that he did not condone the action.
Charlotte argued that these remarks demonstrated that the party actively incites and celebrates misogynistic violence. The incidents coincided with the launch of Women for Reform
, a group intended to showcase policies aimed at supporting women and girls. Activists claimed the timing laid bare a deep hypocrisy within the political movement.
The conference disruptions also intersected with wider financial probes facing the party. The Standard reported that Reform faced intense questioning over polls commissioned using funding from an alleged US firm—which turned out to be undercover reporters from investigative group Verbatim posing as an American financier and his UK-based son. Under electoral law, foreign entities are barred from funding UK political parties. Farage denied breaking any laws during his address to delegates.
Further compounding pressure on the leadership, previous investigations by The Guardian and The Daily Record revealed that local election candidate Stuart Prior had shared inflammatory social media posts, including celebrating the rape of Sikh women and referring to white people as a master race
. Local parliamentarians demanded his immediate suspension, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in the party's candidate vetting mechanisms.
West Midlands Police continue to examine the conference video footage and have appealed for formal complaints to be lodged to progress inquiries. Further developments are expected as activist networks weigh legal options and parliamentary pressure mounts regarding the party's internal disciplinary procedures and conference security protocols.
