Reform UK faces political headwinds as party gathers in Birmingham

Reform UK begins its annual conference in Birmingham as a larger party than a year ago, but faces significant political headwinds, including a £5m gift to Nigel Farage and a Metropolitan Police investigation into donations. The party's growth across Westminster, Holyrood, the Senedd, and local authorities has brought increased scrutiny. Farage denies wrongdoing, claiming the establishment is "fighting back" in a coordinated way, though no evidence supports this allegation of collusion. Reform faces a more competitive landscape, with Labour recovering under Andy Burnham, a more confident Conservative leader in Kemi Badenoch, and the rise of Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain party. Farage hints he will adopt a more positive tone going forward.