Farage's three-year blueprint to build Reform's first GOAT government

NIGEL Farage has drawn up a three-year plan to become prime minister-in-waiting as Reform UK starts preparing for government.

- JONATHAN WALKER

It involves appointing a full Shadow Cabinet, despite having only five MPs at present, enlisting think-tanks to help write a manifesto and finishing off Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

But the strategy depends on continued election success following Reform triumphs in this year's polls on May 1, with next year's Welsh assembly vote and 2027 local elections seen as key milestones.

Mr Farage became convinced that entering Downing Street was a real possibility following last year's general election when his party won five seats but, crucially, came second in 98 others.

However, friends say his drive to change the country for the better was bolstered by the birth of his first grandchild shortly before last year's vote.

The party is planning a publicity blitz during the summer period between Parliament rising on July 22 and the start of the party conference season in September. Known as the "silly season", this is traditionally a period when politics grinds to a halt barring unexpected emergencies.

Options include the publication of a dossier compiled by Zia Yusuf, former party chair, who is carrying out an audit of waste in the 12 local authorities now controlled by Reform modelled on America's DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency)

inquiry previously led by Elon Musk. It has already revealed that Kent County Council spent more than £24,000 on trampolining, bowling and trips to the cinema.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg according to insiders. The plan is to release a substantial dossier rather than allowing findings to drip out over time.

Reform's conference, at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham on September 5 and 6, will be a far cry from the traditional events held by the Brexit Party, as Reform used to be known, or UKIP, the separate party once led by Nigel Farage, which resembled rallies focused entirely on the leader's speech.