British politics is in disarray. The Conservatives, once a force of ideas and action, are now little more than managers of a sinking ship. Labour? Even worse — driven by a relentless globalist agenda, they seem hell-bent on stripping the UK of its sovereignty, handing control over to unelected bureaucrats and quangos.

Meanwhile, the electorate of hard-working, patriotic, and fed-up people have been abandoned by both parties. The Conservative Party of 1834, full of dynamism and purpose, would be unrecognisable today. The Labour Party, formed 66 years later, was once a champion of the working class.

Today, both are shadows of their former selves, lacking in original ideas, and directionless. The Conservatives, in what they consider their natural state of government, have become mere caretakers of a decline they seem too timid to reverse. Labour, at least, has a clear plan but it’s a plan that sells out the British people in favour of a European superstate and the kind of globalist, Blairite vision that’s led us to the mess we’re in.

The real tragedy here is that the political class, the so-called “elite” no longer feel they answer to the public. This mindset of superiority, polished to perfection by Tony Blair in 1997, has detached the political elite from the people they claim to represent. And what happens when you ignore the will of the people? Look no further than the Conservatives’ catastrophic defeat in the 2024 General Election.

Voters have grown tired of empty promises on key issues — immigration, the economy, NHS, cost of living crisis — with no intention of delivering. For the first time in decades, the electorate turned away from their traditional party allegiances. They realised the old guard doesn’t care.

Labour, however, has learned nothing from this. They continue with their tired playbook: spin, deception, and empty promises. They managed to coast to power on the failures of the Tories. But that’s all changed now. Reform UK has emerged to fill the void. A party born out of the people’s frustration, Reform UK is not just a political party — it’s a movement. A movement grounded in common sense policies that puts Great Britain and its people first.

Founded in January 2021, Reform UK transitioned from its origins as the Brexit Party to tackle broader issues that had been festering in British politics. When it launched, the party was polling at just 3%. Today, it’s seen as a real alternative to the mainstream — and for good reason.

Figures like Ben Habib, Dr. David Bull, and Richard Tice didn’t just build a party they built a movement. A movement of hardworking, proud, patriotic people who were fed up with the political status quo. Reform UK taps into a passion that the old parties can’t even begin to understand.

The party has attracted members who were never politically active before. These aren’t the career politicians or party loyalists. These are everyday Brits who have decided enough is enough. They’ve taken to the streets, set up stalls, knocked on doors—driven by a sense of duty to their country. This energy isn’t going to fade.

So, what’s next? Reform UK is no longer just an upstart party trying to shake things up. Its membership is now thought to rival, if not exceed, that of the Conservative Party. If its current trajectory continues, it’s entirely plausible that Reform UK could be a major force in the next government. The political landscape is changing, and it’s changing fast.

The truth is, Reform UK has exposed the failures of the other parties. And it has offered a clear choice to listen to the people or be left behind. The old political class has grown complacent, arrogant, and disconnected from the British public. Reform UK is here to remind them that the British people won’t tolerate being ignored forever.

Reform UK is more than a flash in the pan. It’s a force for real change. If the Conservatives and Labour don’t wake up, they will find themselves as relics of a bygone era, left in the dust by a party that still believes in the people it serves.

The choice is a simple one. Adapt, or face political extinction. The British people have spoken, and Reform UK is listening.

Richard Thomson was the Reform UK candidate for Braintree in the 2024 General Election.