REFORM leader Nigel Farage has welcomed 29 new councillors who have defected to his party.

Mr Farage also spoke about the “political opportunity” for Reform ahead of May’s local election campaign.

Mr Farage proudly unveiled Reform’s new recruits, 15 of whom were previously Conservative councillors.

A further 13 had been sitting as independents, while the final councillor, Reg Kain, was a Liberal Democrat councillor.

In a powerful speech, Mr Farage also blasted the Tories, claiming that they “stand for nothing”.

The Reform Leader told the crowd how a vote for the Conservatives will be a “wasted vote”.

And Farage warned that people have not yet realised how bad the UK’s economic situation under Labour is.

He slammed the Labour Party’s start under Keir Starmer and said that the “real cost of living” is getting people down.

However, Farage did mention that there had been “turbulence” within the party but this would not deter his efforts.

Chairman Zia Yusuf also praised the speed of the surge in support for Reform during the event.

It comes after Farage ruled out a return for suspended MP Rupert Lowe as he accused him of trying to destroy Reform.

He said there was “no way back” for Mr Lowe, claiming that he had told party whip Lee Anderson: “I will slit the throat of the Reform Party.”

He added: “He’s out to cause maximum destruction and damage.”

Mr Lowe, who now sits as an independent, earlier attacked Mr Farage’s leadership in an online rant.

He said Reform silenced him over Pakistani grooming gangs.

Reform has since reported Mr Lowe to police over threats to chairman Zia Yusuf.

Reform has instructed a barrister to look into allegations of bullying, which Mr Lowe denies.

Meanwhile, a new poll revealed that voters think Nigel Farage would make a better prime minister than Sir Keir Starmer in more than half of constituencies.

Reform UK’s leader beats Sir Keir in 335 seats compared to Sir Keir’s 291.

Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch leads in just six and one in five Labour 2024 voters are now considering Reform.

Mr Farage is also the preferred choice for PM in Labour vs Reform battleground seats.

Maxwell Marlow, director of public affairs at ASI, said: “The government needs to start prioritising what really matters to people.

“The public understandably want the attention to be on reducing the cost of living or fixing public services like the NHS.

“This should be a wake up call for Starmer and co. Rather than acting like the anti-fun police, they should be laser-focused on delivering what they’ve repeatedly said is their number one mission: growth.

“If they don’t change course they’ve got no excuse for failing to understand why their voters are turning to parties like Reform UK, who at the very least will let people enjoy the little pleasures in life.”