'Deep in crisis!' Nigel Farage delivers verdict on Rayner's resignation as speech held early amid Keir Starmer's imminent reshuffle

Addressing Reform UK supporters at the NEC in Birmingham, Mr Farage said: "The reason I have moved this speaking time forward is because this Government is deep in crisis.

"Not only have they fallen in deep unpopularity in just a year of winning the General Election, but it's becoming clear to all of us that it is a Cabinet of wholly unqualified people to run our country. They're not fit to govern."

When Mr Farage brought up Ms Rayner's resignation, the Reform UK leader was met with cheers and applause.

He continued: "You simply can't get away from being the Housing Secretary and avoiding £40,000 of stamp duty.

"It screams of entitlement, it screams of a Government that, despite all the promises that this would be a new kind of politics, is as bad, if not worse, than the one that went before."

However, Mr Farage also appeared desperate to take back control of the agenda following speculation that Sir Keir Starmer could conduct a Cabinet reshuffle later today.

He said: "I didn't want the Prime Minister to do anything to spoil our conference and that's why I've come on the stage now to say they are not fit to govern, the Conservative Party are, as Nadine Dorries said last night, dead and deservedly so. They will not be forgiven."

There had been concern that events in Westminster had stolen the limelight from Reform UK's sold-out conference in Birmingham.

GB News's Political Editor Christopher Hope was among the journalists who rushed back to London this morning as it became increasingly clear Ms Rayner's position as Deputy Prime Minister was untenable.

A Labour veteran told GB News: "We should have just held the reshuffle today. Taken the sting out of Reform. It's a resignation, we've been plunged into chaos, but it's a little harder for Farage to cut through."

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister at midday, Ms Rayner confirmed her decision to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary.

She said: "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice."

Ms Rayner, who landed herself in hot water after avoiding £40,000 in stamp duty on her newly purchased £800,000 Sussex seaside flat, added that she took "full responsibility for this error" as she announced her resignation from the role.

Responding to the resignation letter, Sir Keir told Ms Rayner "you will remain a major figure in our party” and will "continue to fight for the causes you care so passionately about".

However, looking to take back control of the agenda, Mr Farage unveiled Reform UK's 12th defector from the Tories mid-way through his speech, with ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries taking to the stage.

Ms Dorries, who joins a growing number of Johnson loyalists switching to Reform UK, told attendees: "Nigel, his team, Richard and others, the Reform party is the party of the moment. Reform are going to do things differently."

Following the ex-Culture Secretary's speech urging Tories to join Reform UK, Mr Farage announced that Doge chief Zia Yusuf would serve as his head of policy.

He also vowed to end the Channel crossing migrant crisis within two weeks of winning the 2029 General Election.

"We will stop the boats and we will detain and deport those who illegally break into our country," Mr Farage said.

"Doing what nearly every normal country in the rest of the world does.

"You cannot come here illegally and stay. We will stop the boats within two weeks of winning Government."

Mr Farage had just last week unveiled Reform UK's "Operation Restoring Justice" migration plan.

The Clacton MP is vowing to deport 600,000 illegal migrants, leave the European Convention on Human Rights and strike a returns deal with the Taliban.