Farage says Labour’s EU remarks have reopened campaign opportunity for Reform UK

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments about the possibility of rejoining the European Union have given his party a significant political opportunity. Speaking before a Reform rally in Doncaster, Farage said the government’s new language on relations with the EU had put him “back into the debate”. He argued that the issue could help Reform appeal to voters in northern and Midlands constituencies that the party describes as the “red wall”.

Farage dismissed polling showing that as many as 59% of people supported rejoining the EU. He said support would change if voters were told about the potential cost, the possibility of joining the Schengen area and a renewed commitment to the euro. Those points were presented as his political argument; the source material does not independently assess them.

He suggested that Burnham might have been trying to regain voters from the Greens in large cities but said the move had opened a “huge flank” for Reform. At the rally, Farage declared that the party’s general election campaign had begun and said he would welcome a contest with Burnham on the EU. The event, titled “100 days to save Britain”, had been planned before the government’s comments.

Reform sources said the intervention had energised the party and that donors were discussing how to fund a campaign similar to that of the 2016 referendum. Farage also discussed Reform’s internal inquiry into a donations controversy. He indicated that its report was imminent and suggested it would clear two aides.

He further hinted at possible legal action against journalists involved in reporting the matter. The controversy followed an undercover Channel 4 News investigation in which people posing as potential supporters discussed polling and donations involving an impermissible US-based donor. Reform aides James Orr and Dan Jukes have denied wrongdoing or said they would cooperate with the inquiry.

The Metropolitan police are conducting a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform broke foreign-funding laws. The supplied material does not report the outcome of that investigation or provide a response from Burnham or the government.