Nigel Farage has handed Lee Anderson a new job as the Reform UK leader issued a rallying cry to potential candidates to close the party's annual conference.
The party leader invited the Ashfield MP on stage to thank him for his work as he announced Mr Anderson's new role.
Mr Anderson, the first Reform UK MP, said: "I saw real poverty, I saw real desperation but I also saw some people who should have been going to work.
"We should always protect our vulnerable, our disabled people, the people who need the real care.
"There are millions of people out there. And to be honest I don’t always blame the people, I was lucky, I lived in a little terraced house with my mum and dad. But like I said we were the alarm clock generation...that taught me the value of hard work and family."
Meanwhile Farage urged Reform UK delegates to sign up as candidates at May’s local elections, as he closed the conference.
He said: "We’re going to end this conference now. I’m going to invite all the other speakers, those who have participated, to come and join Lee and I now and give them a big hand as they make their way up the steps."
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM THE CONFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Labour says Reform are 'not serious' in scathing rant
Labour has said Reform UK have "no answers" as they issued a scathing response to the party's conference.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "Farage's Reform are full of complaints, but have no answers to the issues Britain faces.
"Reform had the opportunity to use their conference to stop the 'don't know' answers and set out some proper policies, but they didn't take it.
"Nigel Farage still hasn't said how his asylum policy will work, what he wants to replace vital online safety laws with, or how he'd pay for his massive spending commitments.
"Farage has boasted about professionalising his Party, but he's platformed an anti-vaxxer, a woman who called for hotels to be burnt down, and a frankly bizarre musical performance of "insomnia" from one of his mayors.
"They're just not serious. Only this Labour Government is delivering the fairer future our country deserves - by putting more money back into working people’s pockets and giving Britain the renewal we need."
WATCH: Lucy Connolly refuses to rule out standing for Reform as she declares 'Nigel Farage for Prime Minister!'
Lucy Connolly has refused to rule out standing as a candidate for Reform UK as she backed Nigel Farage at the party's conference.
Speaking to GB News, Mrs Connolly declared "Nigel Farage for Prime Minister!" following her appearance in Birmingham.
Sarah Pochin says she would be safer walking around wearing a bright blue burka
Sarah Pochin has said she would be safer if she walked around wearing a "bright blue burka."
Speaking to the party’s conference in Birmingham, the Runcorn and Helsby MP said: “We have had enough of woke policing. Police appearing to sympathise with protest groups that simply do not reflect the views of the majority of the British people.
“I am sure that the police themselves would like nothing more than to get back to tackling crime, policing with impartiality and to protecting the British people.
“A Reform government will address these issues and restore a strong police presence on our streets.”
She added: "The Reform politicians say things that other politicians are not brave enough to say and with that risk comes security, which I now need which is weird.
"Although my chief of staff does tell me life would be a lot simpler on the security front if I just walked around everywhere head to toe in a burka."
WATCH: Lucy Connolly blasts broken justice system before receiving standing ovation at Reform UK conference
Lucy Connolly has blasted Britain broken justice system before receiving a standing ovation at the Reform UK conference.
Speaking on a panel alongside Allison Pearson, Mrs Connolly vowed to campaign to reform the justice system, particularly for women.
Nigel Farage urges Reform members to 'keep disputes private' as conference closes
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage issues his closing speech to call for unity
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Nigel Farage has urged Reform UK members to keep their disputes private as he returned to the stage to close the party’s annual conference.
He said: "Can we please exercise discipline and air our disagreements between each other in private?"
Mr Farage then handed the microphone to Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns to sing the national anthem, where she accidentally sang "God Save the Queen."
Nigel Farage confirms Lee Anderson is the party's welfare spokesman
Making his closing remarks, Nigel Farage has confirmed Ashfield MP Lee Anderson is the party's new Welfare spokesman.
Mr Farage also paid tribute to Richard Tice, his deputy, saying Reform would not have survived without his leadership during its "very difficult early years."
He added: "I am very blessed to have a deputy leader as talented and as hard working as Richard is. He’s a tremendous credit to this party."
Richard Tice - 'There is light at the end of the tunnel'
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice closes his speech a conference
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Richard Tice said there is "light at the end of the tunnel" as he closed his national conference speech.
Reform UK's deputy leader told the annual conference: "I’m so, so proud of what we’re all achieving together. So the good news is that yes, it’s gloomy at the moment, we have to have optimism, we have to look forward.
"What I can tell you is that whilst we may be currently in a damp, dark, gloomy long tunnel of deep socialism, there is light at the end of the tunnel, folks. It’s there, it’s in front of us and slowly but surely that light will get closer and closer.
"And let me tell you what that light is, it is the light of Reform. It is the hope of Reform. It is the aspiration of Reform. It is the confidence and the belief of Reform.
"Do you fancy a bit of that? Do you think the country wants a bit of that? Do you think that’s the reason we’re leading in the polls?"
Richard Tice says Lucy Connolly has 'opportunity to help' party
Deputy leader of Reform UK Richard Tice said Lucy Connolly has a "huge opportunity to help" the party.
Delivering his speech at the party’s conference after Connolly gave an interview on stage, the Boston and Skegness MP said: "It’s wonderful to see her back with us and to hear her direct telling her story.
"I think that she has a huge opportunity to help Reform and help the cause of free speech."
Jacob Rees-Mogg's daughter reveals real reason she joined Reform UK as she 'twists her dad's arm' to defect
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg's daughter has revealed the real reason that she quit the Tories to join Reform UK as she accompanied her father to a fringe event at the NEC in Birmingham.
The former Business Secretary was swamped by a huge crowd at the Nelson Theatre as he addressed Reform members about the lessons Nigel Farage could learn from President Donald Trump.
Opening the event, Sir Jacob admitted that his 16-year-old daughter Mary had joined Reform UK and has been "twisting his arm" about becoming yet another Tory defector.
Lee Anderson blasts Tories campaigning for migrant hotels to be closed - 'Our party opened them!'
Lee Anderson has hit out at Conservative members who are calling for the closure of migrant hotels, revealing he was told to "shut up" about closing them when the Tories were in power.
Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK MP for Ashfield said he was "shouting from the rooftops" to close the hotels when he was a Tory representative, but was ignored.
The Labour Government are facing widespread calls to close the hotels housing asylum seekers, following a series of incidents in Epping.
Zack Polanski says he's concerned about 'rise of the far right' as he slams Nigel Farage
Green Party leader Zack Polanski took aim at Nigel Farage
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Zack Polanski says he's "very concerned about the "rise of the far right" as he questioned if Nigel Farage is a patriot.
The Green Party leader told The Times: "I’m definitely very, very concerned about the far right and the rise of the far right.
"I’m also concerned about what used to be called centrism, where the Labour Party and the Tory party are, because I think they’ve swung to the right too. I think the centre has massively shifted.
"Nigel Farage calls himself a patriot but I’m very clear that Nigel Farage hates communities that don’t look like the communities he wants them to look like."
Border Force declares 'Red' day in Channel as hundreds of small boat migrants cross illegally
Hundreds of small boat migrants have crossed the Channel today, giving the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood a sobering taste of the huge task she faces.
On her first full day in office since taking over from Yvette Cooper, Border Force has declared a "Red" day in the English Channel, with large numbers of illegal crossings expected.
GB News sources estimate the number of migrants that have crossed the Channel has already passed 600.
It follows 11 straight days where no migrant boats made it to the UK because of bad weather.
New poll says 41 per cent of Britons believe Nigel Farage is a Prime Minister in the waiting
A new poll of 4,000 Britons shared their thoughts on whether the country is ready for a Reform UK and Nigel Farage Government.
Some 41 per cent of those say they believe that Mr Farage is a Prime Minister in the waiting.
Thirty-nine per cent believe that Reform is ready to govern the country.
The poll, ran by Merlin Strategy, concluded that voters believe Reform UK will improve the situation including 51 per cent of Britons who say issues around immigration will improve.
What's coming up at the Reform Conference for the rest of the day
Richard Tice and Nigel Farage are still due to speak
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There is still plenty to come at the Reform UK Conference this afternoon, with speeches from Richard Tice and Nigel Farage to follow.
Lucy Connolly will appear with Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan at 3pm.
Jacob Rees-Mogg's daughter has joined Reform but he is 'not going to'
Jacob Rees-Mogg's daughter has joined Reform
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Jacob Rees-Mogg's daughter has joined Nigel Farage's Reform UK but the renowned Tory said he is "not going to".
He said he was "having his arm twisted" by his daughter, who he was "embarrassed" to say has joined Reform.
Mr Rees-Mogg explained: "Mary has joined Reform... but I'm not going to.
"I'm going to remain a Tory because I think it is fundamental that we bring the family of the right together."
Members at Reform Conference pass motion calling for party's immigration policy to be widened
Members at Reform UK's conference have passed a motion calling for the party's immigration policy to be widened so that asylum approvals made by previous Labour and Conservative Governments would be re-examined.
Lancashire county council deputy leader councillor Simon Evans proposed the motion, which would review immigration decisions regarding potential illegal migrants, where the police national computer and counterterrorism checks were bypassed.
He told the party's conference in Birmingham that it could see Britain "saved." Activists at the NEC unanimously passed it.
Other motions were carried, including one that would see the party repeal the 2008 Climate Change Act.
The motion put forward by Doncaster councillor Rachel Reed said current legislation meant significant costs for billpayers, which was "daylight robbery".
WATCH IN FULL - Nigel Farage speaks to GB News from the Reform UK conference
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has sat down with GB News Political Correspondent Katherine Forster as the party's annual conference begins its second and final day.
Mr Farage confirmed his plan to tackle Britain's illegal migrant crisis, defended the defection of ex-Tory Nadine Dorries and hit out at Britain's free speech crackdown.
Reform MP Sarah Pochin lays into the Conservatives deeming them 'dead' and 'finished'
Reform MP Sarah Pochin has laid into the Tories, deeming the party to be "dead" and "finished".
She told GB News: "We have only got four MPs but we are effectively the real party of opposition.
"Whatever the Conservatives come out with now, they are finished. Nadine Dorries said yesterday that the Conservatives are dead.
"I would say every time a Reform politician, Nigel, myself, Zia say something, then immideately the Conservatives take that rhetoric.
"The fact is, they had 14 years and done nothing with it. What you are seeing here at this Conference is a party that is energised, a party that is providing hope for the country."
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE
Reform Conference underway in Birmingham
Dr David Bull, Chairman of Reform UK, is on stage with a series of guests speaking in Birmingham.
Several Reform members and delegates are in attendance, listening to guests speak on stage.
Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, Sarah Pochin, is due to come on stage at 2pm.
Deputy Leader of Reform Richard Tice is set to come on at 3:30pm, with closing remarks from Nigel Farage scheduled for just before 4pm.
Reform accuses John Swinney of 'cynical' attempt to politicise Scottish flag
John Swinney has been accused of a 'cynical' attempt to politicise the Scottish flag
| PAReform UK said John Swinney is trying to politicise the Scottish flag after he claimed the far right was "hijacking" the saltire.
Nigel Farage's party told the Scottish National Party to "get used to it", as hundreds of flags have risen on lampposts across the country.
At first minister's questions, Mr Swinney responded to a query from the SNP's Glasgow MSP Bob Doris, who raised concerns about the flags in his constituency.
Mr Doris said he is worried the saltire is being "hijacked" and losing its "inclusive, welcoming and tolerant" message, which Mr Swinney "could not have expressed better".
Lucy Connolly TO SPEAK at Reform Conference
It has been confirmed that Lucy Connolly will speak at the Reform Conference today.
On the main stage, the special guest speaker which Nigel Farage has teased as will be Mrs Connolly, who is set to come onto the stage at 4pm.
Mrs Connolly was released from prison on August 21, after serving nine months in jail.
She was jailed for a social media post deemed to stir up racial hatred against asylum seekers online on the day of the Southport murders.
Nigel Farage to sign Reform FC shirts at the party's Conference
Mr Farage will sign people's Reform FC shirts
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he will sign Reform FC shirts at the party's Conference.
Mr Farage requests people to "make your donation to the party" while he signs shirts.
Reform shirts sell for £39.99 on the party's website, with signed Mr Farage shirts selling for £99.99, but are sold out.
Christopher Hope speaks to new Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones
Darren Jones speaks to GB News' Christopher Hope after the Cabinet reshuffle yesterday.
He said: "As the Prime Minister said on Monday, this is the second chapter of the Labour Government."
Mr Jones explained the first chapter was to "put out the fires" they inherited from the Conservatives and now they can start to "drive delivery".
He denied any claims that this was a panicked reshuffle following Angela Rayner's resignation, insisting it was already in the framework.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MR JONES ABOVE
Top Tory predicts 'early election' for Labour as he picks out major 'failure' in Sir Keir Starmer reshuffle
Tom Pursglove has predicted an 'early election' for Labour
| GETTYTom Pursglove has predicted an "early election" for the Labour Government following Sir Keir Starmer's "disaster" cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to GB News, the former Home Office Minister stated that Britain will "suffer for the duration of this Government".
Following the announcement of Angela Rayner's departure from Government, the Prime Minister launched a major cabinet reshuffle.
GB News' Deputy Political Editor Tom Harwood looks ahead to day two of the Reform UK Conference
Tom Harwood, GB News' Deputy Political Editor, spoke from Birmingham ahead of the second day of the Reform UK Conference.
He explained that the vocal figures within Reform will be using the opportunity today to deliver significant speeches after they were "overshadowed" with extra-curricular situations yesterday.
Mr Harwood said: "I do think speaking to people last night in and around this conference, they are a little bit disappointed that the big moment, that big speech, has been slightly glossed over with wider goings on in politics.
"We will be hearing from the main players again today, and I wonder if we are going to see a more significant moment today to get their message across."
Nigel Farage's tax affairs are 'irrelevant' to voters insists Richard Tice
Reform's Deputy Leader Richard Tice said Nigel Farage's tax affairs are "irrelevant" to voters.
When asked if he would address questions about the Reform leader's partner buying his constituency home in Clacton, Mr Tice told Times Radio: "I'm pleased to confirm I'm not his tax adviser. You'll have to speak to them.
"It's irrelevant to what voters are concentrating on, which is our messaging, which is the message of hope.
"We can get out of this nightmare that we're in."
Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice speaks to GB News Breakfast ahead of day two of the Reform UK Conference
Deputy Reform leader Richard Tice spoke to GB News Breakfast ahead of day two at the Reform UK Conference.
He said: "There is a mood of hope and optimism here at this incredible Reform Conference because of our thousands and thousands of members and delegates.
"We see light at the end of the dark tunnel of socialism that we are stuck in at the moment.
"Our leader yesterday said get ready for a general election in 2027 because the reality is this Government is falling apart in front of our very eyes."
SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MR TICE ABOVE
Every Labour MP reshuffled or OUT from Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet reshuffle
Ahead of a junior ministerial reshuffle expected today for Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet, here are all the moves from yesterday's changes.
OUT
- Angela Rayner - Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary
- Lucy Powell - Leader of the Commons
- Ian Murray - Scotland Secretary
MOVED
- David Lammy - from Foreign Secretary, to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary
- Shabana Mahmood - from Justice Secretary, to Home Secretary
- Yvette Cooper - from Home Secretary, to Foreign Secretary
- Steve Reed - from Environment Secretary, to Housing Secretary
- Darren Jones - from Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Pat McFadden - from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to Work and Pensions Secretary
- Peter Kyle - from Science Secretary, to Business Secretary
- Emma Reynolds - from Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to Environment Secretary
- Douglas Alexander - from Trade Minister, to Scotland Secretary
- Liz Kendall - from Work and Pensions Secretary, to Science Secretary
- Jonathan Reynolds - from Business Secretary, to Chief Whip
- Sir Alan Campbell - from Chief Whip, to Leader of the Commons
Darren Jones rejects any suggestions of 'an early election'
Darren Jones has rejected any claims of 'an early election'
| PAChief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said "there will not be an early election", following Nigel Farage's claims of a general election as early as 2027.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told Sky News: "Nigel Farage is wrong there.
"The Labour Party is not going to split and there won't be an early election."
Mr Jones also rejected suggestions that Yvette Cooper has been moved out of the Home Office because she is failing to deal with the small boats crisis, saying her move to Foreign Secretary is "brilliant".
Reform UK Conference - Recap of day one
As the second day starts to get underway at the Reform UK Conference, there were plenty of notable points from day one.
- Nadine Dorries was unveiled to crowds at the Reform Conference as the former Tory Culture Secretary defected to Nigel Farage's party. She told GB News that Reform is the "party of the moment" and the Conservatives are "falling apart".
- Mr Farage promised to stop the small boats "within two weeks" of winning the general election.
- The Reform UK leader dealt with protesters who made their way into the Conference, shouting at them "boring, boring, boring".
- Reform's Chief Whip Lee Anderson joked that Angela Rayner received financial advice from Diane Abbott as he took a swipe at the former Deputy Prime Minister.
- Reform UK members were split on Ms Dorries' appointment, with one insisting they "don't want to turn into another succession of the Tory Party".