Leader of Reform UK
| Leader of Reform UK | |
|---|---|
since 3 June 2024 | |
| Style | Party leader |
| Formation | 20 January 2019 (as Leader of the Brexit Party) 4 January 2021 (as Leader of Reform UK) |
| First holder | Catherine Blaiklock |
| Deputy | Deputy Leader of Reform UK |
The Leader of Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party) is the most senior and highest position within Reform UK. The current holder is party founder Nigel Farage, who became leader on 3 June 2024, previously having served in the position from 2019 to 2021. The longest serving leader of the party was Richard Tice having served three years and 90 days. The shortest serving was Catherine Blaiklock who was leader for 62 days.
From 20 January to 22 March 2019, the office was first held by Catherine Blaiklock. She resigned as leader when it was disclosed that she had made anti-Islamic and racist statements online.[1] Blaiklock would leave the party in July 2019 and later joined the English Democrats in 2021.[2] On 22 March 2019 the current leader Nigel Farage took over, two days after Blaiklock's resignation.[3] Farage held the position until his retirement as a politician on 6 March 2021.[4] Following Farage's resignation his party chairman, Richard Tice, became leader.[5][6] Tice remained as leader until 3 June 2024 when he relinquished the position back to Farage who had announced his intention to stand as a candidate for MP in Clacton at the 2024 general election.[6] Tice would later become deputy leader in July 2024. Farage led the party into the general election which saw the party win 5 seats in the House of Commons one of which was Farage in Clacton.[7]
List
| Leader |
Portrait | Took office | Left office | Elections fought | Tenure | Ref | Prime minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Blaiklock | 20 January 2019 | 22 March 2019 | — | 62 days | [8][9] | Johnson 2019–2022 | ||
| Nigel Farage | 22 March 2019 | 6 March 2021 | 2019 | 1 year, 350 days | [10] | |||
| Richard Tice | 6 March 2021 | 3 June 2024 | — | 3 years, 90 days | [11] | |||
| Truss 2022 | ||||||||
| Sunak 2022–2024 | ||||||||
| Nigel Farage | 3 June 2024 | Incumbent | 2024 | 1 year, 295 days | [12] | |||
| Starmer 2024–present | ||||||||
Timeline
See also
- Frontbench team of Nigel Farage
- Deputy Leader of Reform UK
- Chairman of Reform UK
- Chief Whip of Reform UK
- List of Reform UK MPs
References
- ^ Walker, Peter (20 March 2019). "Leader of Nigel Farage's party resigns over anti-Islam messages". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Catherine Blaiklock for Great Yarmouth in the UK Parliamentary general election". whocanivotefor.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Nigel Farage, self-proclaimed "Sigma", says he will take over as leader of Brexit Party". iNews. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Walker, Peter (7 March 2021). "Nigel Farage quits as Reform UK leader in step back from party politics". The Guardian.
- ^ "Who is Reform UK leader Richard Tice?". BBC News. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Nigel Farage to Run for Parliament as Reform UK Leader". politicshome.com. 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Nigel Farage vows to change politics for ever after first election win". BBC News. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "The new Ukip? Nigel Farage offers 'full support' for another Brexit party". Irish Independent. 20 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Walker, Peter (20 March 2019). "Leader of Nigel Farage's party resigns over anti-Islam messages". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Nigel Farage back in frontline politics as Brexit Party leader". BBC News. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Walker, Peter (7 March 2021). "Nigel Farage quits as Reform UK leader in step back from party politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Morton, Becky (3 June 2024). "Nigel Farage to run as Reform UK candidate in Clacton". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.