It’s early September in Birmingham. The opportunities are abundant for those sightseeing – visit the New Street Bull, explore the overpriced world of Cadburys, listen to Duran Duran.
It’s early September in Birmingham. The opportunities are abundant for those sightseeing – visit the New Street Bull, explore the overpriced world of Cadburys, listen to Duran Duran. Alternatively, if you’re a right wing merchant to one of Hades’ finest (or just like to throw milkshakes at politicians), you should take a trip to the Reform UK National Conference, held in the City of a Thousand Trades. The conference centres around the party’s future, after its success in the 2024 general election. Nigel Farage has now joined the shackles of parliament, where he has since spent more time overseas than in his actual constituency. His latest appearance sees him onstage in the NEC (another day where he is not in Clacton), speaking to the thousands of new members Reform has gained since last year. The Conservatives called, they want their members back!
A month later, we head to the south coast, in Bournemouth. Famous for its sandy beaches, iconic piers, and connections to nicer parts of the country. Despite Storm Amy running a rampage on the coastal city, the Greens are not deterred; they are high on the 80% increase in membership over the past 3 weeks (and the legalised marujana). This year’s conference feels different for the fast-growing party – with new leader Zack Polanski taking the reins in such an unprecedented time, not just for them, but for the whole country. The rise in extreme right-wing attitudes has prevailed in England, with many towns unable to go 500 meters without seeing an English flag on a lamp-post, or painted on a snail. There should be apprehension from the Greens, as left-wing policies are a stark contrast to what is popular in politics right now. But Polanski, along with the other speakers of the weekend, refuses to let this happen, with the conference feeling hopeful and optimistic instead.
Both parties’ thousands of dedicated members are ready for the unpredictability of modern politics – ready for the challenge in any way possible. The Greens discuss the importance of local community and canvassing, whilst Reform discuss the best way to deport asylum seekers ‘for our safety’. There are hundreds of differences between their respective agendas, yet both conferences use similar tactics to collect more members. Both leaders appeal to voters through a certain charisma (something Labour members are unable to say at least), with Farage and Polanski both charming, confident public speakers. Polanski even uses his position on stage to emphasise The Green’s agenda, cheering with the crowd ‘migrants and refugees are welcome here’. Additionally, it is apparent that both parties have a shared opposition to Keir Starmer’s Labour government. In an attempt to look like a normal Brit, Farage uses dry sarcasm to position the government’s cabinet as unqualified, as if he didn’t spend the end of last year campaigning for a landlord to be President. Polanski also attacks Sir Keir, calling him a ‘handmaid’ of far right extremism, as well as a ‘Nigel’ lover. You can’t help but feel bad for Starmer, first he lost his backbone and now he’s lost originality. It must be hard being the son of a toolmaker.
Obviously, The Green Party and Reform have major differences in their ideologies, yet even with juxtaposing attitudes and mantras there are subtle similarities between the two. For example, instead of a MAGA-esque, traditionalist anthem of ‘Make Britain Great Again’ aired from the Reform Party, the Greens changed direction in their conference, focusing on a political reform to make us ‘hopeful’ again. And despite the overt difference in attitude, it feels humorous that both ‘radical’ parties have so much in common when it comes to political marketing. Sometimes people will comment on the political spectrum as if it is a horseshoe shape – instead of a binary left/right, ideas may have a potential common unity the more radical the ideology gets. Whilst watching the leaders’ speech for both Reform and the Greens, I found myself wondering how this theory fits into these parties, who have both found themselves in the spotlight of the ‘new’ modern political attitudes. So, this is the question – how much do Reform UK and the Green Party share in common?