Overview

• Conference at Birmingham's NEC drew thousands, featured a Jacksons afterparty performance, and showcased claims of more than 240,000 members, according to chairman David Bull.
• Nigel Farage publicly named allies to portfolio-style posts, elevating Lee Anderson as welfare spokesman.
• Party strategists signalled plans to bring in veterans of government and to consider non‑MPs for ministerial-style roles to offset inexperience.
• Nadine Dorries’ arrival from the Conservatives was given a prime slot, even as members voiced concerns about taking more former Tories.
• Parts of the gathering were overshadowed by Angela Rayner’s resignation and Labour’s reshuffle, which dominated political attention.