Bigots not welcome in Reform UK, says Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage has said "bigots" and "extremists" are not welcome in Reform UK, as he seeks to "professionalise" the party after its election success.

Addressing its annual conference in Birmingham, the Reform UK leader said the party was "coming of age" after winning its first MPs in July.

But he conceded the party had not been "professional enough" to properly vet candidates, following a series of controversies over their past comments.

He added that the party represented the "silent majority" and could have won more seats, but that "amateurism let us down".

Among proposed changes to make the party more professional, he said the party would be vetting candidates "rigorously" for all future elections.

He added that they would also seek to emulate the Liberal Democrats by aiming to win more seats on local councils to bolster its national electoral chances.