How times have changed. Little less than a year ago, Reform UK's annual conference was a frenzy of Nigel Farage fever.
Members, who by that time had totalled around 80,000 nationwide, were starting to form branches as the Reform UK leader rallied his troops to join what he described as the "People's Army".
Fast forward just 12 months and Reform UK's Conference is bigger and better. Four fringe theatres, perhaps aptly named Liberty, Union, Britannia and Endeavour, have hosted events ranging from the Boriswave fury to net zero.
While 6,000 loyal supporters have rushed down to Birmingham for another chance to hear from Mr Farage, around 400 City boys and commercial executives have found themselves wedged into the Heathrow Lounge.
With leather sofas, a bar serving Madri on draught and speakers blaring out Calvin Harris's 'Acceptable in the 80s', Britain's high-fliers found themselves a home away from home at Reform UK conference.
Reform UK's Doge chief Zia Yusuf, who Mr Farage yesterday unveiled as his head of policy, is certainly currying favour with those from the Square Mile.
"The herd has started to move," a Reform source told GB News.
"They can all feel it. We're going somewhere and they're encouraged by Zia. He's the corporate catch."
But it was a few familiar faces sitting in the Heathrow Lounge that really piqued GB News's attention.
GB News grabbed some photos from inside the NEC
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Tory mega-donor schmoozing in Heathrow Lounge with 'Brexit Bad Boy'
Just a stone's throw from the media centre, Tory mega-donor and former peer Michael Ashcroft was schmoozing with City chums at the price of £600 a ticket.
Lord Ashcroft, who once wrote a blistering letter to Mr Farage accusing the then-Ukip leader of prioritising his own personal political presence over his commitment to hold an in-out referendum on the European Union, was accompanied by another familiar face.
The 79-year-old former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party was locked in conversation with fellow Belize dual national Andy Wigmore.
Mr Wigmore, a long-time ally of Mr Farage, represented Belize at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in trap shooting, ranking 31st and 36th respectively on the first and second day of qualification.
But Lord Ashcroft has been hovering around the same circles as Mr Farage for the best part of a decade. With both being loyal believers in the Brexit cause, Lord Ashcroft is now looking to write a book on the rise of Reform UK.
And the backdrop of the schmoozing lounge is that Reform UK pocketed £1.5million in the second quarter of 2025.
However, Mr Farage still has some way to go to catch up with the Tories on £4.5million and even Labour on £3million.
Tory defector makes £25 purchase from Reform UK shop
Reform UK's merchandise stand was selling football shirts like hotcakes
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Ex-Tory Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has joined an ever-increasing list of former Boris Johnson disciples entering Nigel Farage's ranks.
However, early into yesterday's conference opening, the 46-year-old was spotted taking a look at what was on sale at the Reform UK shop.
The former Tory MP forked out £25 for a Lazio-esque teal and white scarf.
The scarves might come in handy for Reform UK members at Lee Anderson's next conference speech, when the Nottingham Forest and Mansfield fans will almost inevitably walk out to his "here we go, here we go, here we go" chant.
But Sir Jake did not feature on Reform UK's line-up of turquoise football shirts, which one insider said: "Have been selling like hotcakes."
One of Mr Farage's aides even showed GB News a photo of his match-worn shirt framed in his house following Reform FC's 3-2 triumph over Clacton's local Wetherspoons.
Reform members jubilant after Angela Rayner's resignation
Some Reform UK members were taking aim at Labour's big beasts
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As the People's Channel broke Angela Rayner's resignation, a growing gaggle of Reform UK members were crammed around our main stand in the middle of the NEC.
There was a sense of absolute jubilation from Mr Farage's loyal supporters.
"It's incompetence at the highest level," a member from Ms Rayner's seat of Ashton-under-Lyne said.
Reform UK's rebel-rousing village for activists to discuss campaigning and social events was also swept up by Ms Rayner's resignation.
The Yorkshire & Humber Reform UK stand temporarily had a simple three-word statement stuck across its main sign.
"Rayner has resigned," it said. A senior figure from Reform's campaign in Yorkshire & Humber joked: "Hopefully it's Ed Miliband next."
The sign was removed within no more than half an hour, and GB News has not been able to track down where it's ended up.
Familiar faces: The key Tory figures spotted around the NEC
It did not take long to bump into a former Tory MP in the NEC. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Sir Jake Berry and Aidan Burley were among those enjoying a reaction from their relatively newly-acquired supporters.
However, one former MP who has not quite yet made the decision to switch was also in attendance, albeit in a commercial capacity.
Jonathan Gullis has been pretty clear that he is weighing up a defection, repeatedly refusing to rule out becoming the 13th bolt from the blue.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Gullis said: "I am enjoying civilian life, seeing my children and my wife far more than I ever used to. I'm enjoying growing my business and right now that is my primary focus."
When pushed on if he could be swayed to stand in 2029, Mr Gullis added: "A lot can happen between now and then."
However, and perhaps in a sign of the changing political weather, GB News also saw senior allies of Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May.
Clacton meets Whitehall: The Hilton showdown
Nigel Farage delivering his speech at the NEC | PAReform UK staffers appeared to enter the evening with their first opportunity to take on "the Blob".
It was not quite as anyone expected. No Doge, no war over working from home, no PCS strike action.
Instead, Reform UK figures stumbled across a group of mandarins who had headed up to Birmingham on an away day.
The Government is said to be enforcing a ban on wasteful away days, which cost the taxpayer an eyewatering £10,000-a-month since Labour came to power.
From escape rooms to learn about cybersecurity to building a mini-Mexican railway, mandarins have racked up huge costs to indulge in the supposedly work-related getaways.
However, Reform staffers could not resist taking a jibe at the civil servants who had ended up around the corner from Reform's conference.
"Enjoy it while you can," one staffer joked.
And it is fair to see why civil servants might be a little jittery.
Just hours before the showdown, Mr Farage issued a stark warning to Whitehall.
He said: "We're beginning to see, already through the county councils, that we run certain obstructions from the civil service being put in our way.
"And I imagine if we win the next election, we may face similar barriers to the kinds of real change that this country needs.
"So, we need experienced people. We need people who have been in Government.
"We need people who understand just how the system works and what the difficulties are. We need people with experience."