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Reform UK has more members than Tories, Farage says Reform UK has more members than Tories, Farage says
(about 3 hours later)
Reform UK now has more members than the Conservative Party, its leader Nigel Farage has said.Reform UK now has more members than the Conservative Party, its leader Nigel Farage has said.
A digital tracker on Reform's website shows its membership numbers have overtaken the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservatives earlier this year.A digital tracker on Reform's website shows its membership numbers have overtaken the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservatives earlier this year.
Nigel Farage thanked those who helped his party "make history" and said Reform is now the "real opposition".Nigel Farage thanked those who helped his party "make history" and said Reform is now the "real opposition".
A Conservative party spokesperson said Reform UK had helped to deliver a Labour government.A Conservative party spokesperson said Reform UK had helped to deliver a Labour government.
Reacting to the growing tally on X, Farage said, external: "The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world."Reacting to the growing tally on X, Farage said, external: "The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world."
Party chairman Zia Yusuf said Reform had broken the "centuries-long stranglehold on the centre-right of British politics by the Tories".Party chairman Zia Yusuf said Reform had broken the "centuries-long stranglehold on the centre-right of British politics by the Tories".
Earlier this year, the Conservative Party said it had 131,680 members eligible to vote during its leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak.Earlier this year, the Conservative Party said it had 131,680 members eligible to vote during its leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak.
It was the lowest recorded membership for the party and a considerable drop from the 2022 leadership contest, when it boasted around 172,000 members.It was the lowest recorded membership for the party and a considerable drop from the 2022 leadership contest, when it boasted around 172,000 members.
A Conservative spokesman said Reform had "delivered a Labour government that has cruelly cut winter fuel winter payments for 10 million pensioners, put the future of family farming and food security at risk, and launched a devastating raid on jobs which will leave working people paying the price.A Conservative spokesman said Reform had "delivered a Labour government that has cruelly cut winter fuel winter payments for 10 million pensioners, put the future of family farming and food security at risk, and launched a devastating raid on jobs which will leave working people paying the price.
"A vote for Reform this coming May is a vote for a Labour council - only the Conservatives can stop this", he added."A vote for Reform this coming May is a vote for a Labour council - only the Conservatives can stop this", he added.
The BBC has contacted Labour for comment. A Labour spokesperson said that while the Conservatives and Reform "pick fights... this government is getting on with delivering the change the British people voted for".
Membership numbers to all main political parties fell last year despite gearing up for this summer's General Election.Membership numbers to all main political parties fell last year despite gearing up for this summer's General Election.
Although it still has the most members of any UK party, Labour saw its numbers dip below 400,000 for the first time since 2015.Although it still has the most members of any UK party, Labour saw its numbers dip below 400,000 for the first time since 2015.
Comparing party membership numbers can be "difficult", according to a research briefing published by the House of Commons Library, as there is no uniform definition of membership or way to monitor it.Comparing party membership numbers can be "difficult", according to a research briefing published by the House of Commons Library, as there is no uniform definition of membership or way to monitor it.
The director of think tank More in Common, Luke Tryl, told the PA news agency that the metric is "opaque and murky".The director of think tank More in Common, Luke Tryl, told the PA news agency that the metric is "opaque and murky".
He said Reform UK have "momentum", but indicated that it is not guaranteed whether its membership converts to campaigners.He said Reform UK have "momentum", but indicated that it is not guaranteed whether its membership converts to campaigners.