Nigel Farage brought his Donald Trump tribute act to Birmingham with a Reform UK conference which was designed to show the party is ready for power – but ended up emphasising just what a cult of personality it still is.

For the first time, Reform’s annual gathering had the same slick, corporate-style trappings as the established parties: an exhibition hall where companies and charities could pay to put up stands, and a full programme of fringe events.

Compared to previous years, when Reform conference was essentially just one big booze-up, the event came across as much more professional .

But it was a bit ragged at the edges: a bus company which had planned to park one vehicle in the conference hall as a promotional gambit was asked to bring five, apparently to make the space look

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