Later this year, the leader of France's far-right National Rally will address a conference in Birmingham, not as a guest of the French government, but as an invited speaker for Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. Jordan Bardella is scheduled to deliver a speech in English on 4 September 2026, the second day of Reform UK's three-day party conference. Farage praised Bardella as representing "a new generation of political leaders who are standing up for their countries, their borders and their people." The visit underscores the growing international links between far-right populist movements in the UK and Europe.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has positioned itself as a hardline anti-immigration party focused on reducing small boat crossings across the English Channel. Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen's National Rally, has backed greater police cooperation between London and Paris but wants to return migrants to their countries of origin rather than the French coast. The two leaders met in December 2025, and Bardella told the BBC he thought Farage would be Britain's next prime minister. Farage said he looked forward to discussing how the two countries could "finally stop the boats once and for all."
“Explains why Jordan Bardella's speech at Reform UK's conference signals growing far-right ties and what it means for UK immigration politics.”
This is not the first time Reform UK has hosted foreign far-right figures. In 2024, former Finnish Deputy Prime Minister Timo Soini spoke to delegates, and in 2025, Reform Party of Canada founder Preston Manning addressed the conference. The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy to build an international network of like-minded politicians who champion national sovereignty and strict border controls.
For UK readers, the Bardella visit matters because it signals the normalisation of far-right ideas within British politics. Reform UK is currently a minor party but has been gaining traction, with Farage fighting a by-election in Clacton on 13 August 2026, where no mainstream parties are standing against him. The conference speech also highlights the contentious issue of small boats crossing the Channel, which all major parties agree must be reduced but disagree on how. Bardella's appearance could amplify Farage's calls for tougher immigration policies and deeper cooperation with France.
Q: Why is Jordan Bardella speaking at Reform UK's conference? Bardella and Farage share political objectives, particularly on immigration and border security. Bardella has publicly endorsed Farage as a future prime minister, and the invitation is part of a broader effort to align Reform UK with other European far-right parties.
Q: What is the significance of small boats crossing the English Channel? The volume of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats has become a defining political issue in the UK. Bardella advocates returning migrants to countries of origin rather than to France, while Farage wants to stop the crossings entirely through bilateral cooperation.
Q: Who else has spoken at Reform UK conferences? Previous speakers include former Finnish Deputy Prime Minister Timo Soini (2024) and Reform Party of Canada founder Preston Manning (2025), illustrating a consistent effort to invite international populist figures.
What happens next: Farage faces a by-election in Clacton on 13 August, with no mainstream opposition. Bardella will deliver his speech on 4 September. The conference may set the stage for further collaboration between UK and European far-right figures as the 2027 French presidential election approaches.
