Nigel Farage has said his party Reform UK will "make Britain great again" in a nod to his friend and president-elect Donald Trump.
Mr Farage called for a complete change in the country's culture during his impassioned speech at Reform's party conference in Leicester this evening. He said: "We've got to make Britain great again, haven't we.
"We're going to make Britain great again and we only do that by controlling our borders, we only do that by reasserting our confidence in ourselves, in our history, our identity, our tolerance, and what we are and always have been as a nation.
"And we only do it if we reduce the cost of living for all ordinary folk and make the country start making money again, stop sinking deeper and deeper into debt.
"Get rid of this culture that it's alright to live off the state, it's alright to go on the sick, when actually we simply can't afford to go on like this.
"And here's what you'll get from me: you'll get plain speaking, even if at times what I have to say is harsh, you'll get honest plain speaking.
"And I'll do it from a perspective of ... I absolutely believe in this country. I believe in its people. I feel we've been appallingly led for the last 20-25 years, and this can be turned around."
Earlier in his speech, the MP for Clacton leader announced his plan to take Kemi Badenoch's constituency of North West Essex following their row over Reform's membership numbers.
The two have been warring recently over Reform's membership numbers after Farage announced his party had overtaken the Tories.
Badenoch argued this number was inflated, claiming Reform had "faked" its live counter tracking the number of memberships it was getting.
DON'T MISS: Nigel Farage takes aim at Keir Starmer over grooming scandal
DON'T MISS: Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson say Tommy Robinson ‘not welcome’ in Reform
DON'T MISS: Protesters wave ‘fascists out’ banners at Reform conference before Farage speech
Farage responded at the conference: "I gave her an opportunity to apologise for what has now been thoroughly disproven in the media and she's chosen not to take the opportunity. Although that's not surprising, she's not exactly known for her charm.
"On the 31st of this month, we've booked a big venue and I'm going to invite all our members and supporters in North West Essex to come along to meet me, to have a photograph.
"And we already have 800 supporters in her constituency ... We'll do a big joint photograph and I'll tell her, 'Kemi, not only are these not fake members, but we're now going to make this a target constituency for the next general election.
"'You had your chance, you accused me of being dishonest and you had your chance to apologise, well now the gloves are off'."
Related articles
- 'Nigel Farage must be wary of one huge obstacle standing in Reform UK's way'
- Starmer haemorrhaging voters as Farage set to scoop 120 seats, new poll says
- Nigel Farage receives another huge boost as senior Tory defects
- Protesters wave ‘fascists out’ banners at Reform conference before Farage speech
- Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson say Tommy Robinson ‘not welcome’ in Reform