The Reform UK rally in Birmingham kicked off in an unexpected way — not with a speech or a political slogan, but with live music.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform UK Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, stepped onto the stage in a sparkling blue jumpsuit and belted out a song she co-wrote nearly two decades ago.
The number, titled Insomnia, instantly grabbed the crowd’s attention and set a playful, rebellious mood for the day.
From Rock Rebel to Political Rebel
Jenkyns, a former Conservative MP and minister, told the audience that the song had been written back in her rock band days with a close friend who has since passed away.
She explained that while her time in Parliament required her to tone down her style, her “inner rebel” never really disappeared.
Now with Reform, she’s letting it show — and in true rock star fashion.
Sparkly Outfits and Big Wins
This wasn’t the first time she made headlines with her bold fashion choices.
Earlier this year, she celebrated her victory in May’s mayoral election wearing an outfit straight out of ABBA’s 1970s wardrobe.
Her sequined blue trouser suit didn’t just dazzle the crowd — it marked a historic win for Reform, securing the party’s biggest political role to date.
A Landslide Victory in Greater Lincolnshire
The result was decisive. Jenkyns stormed past her Conservative rival Rob Whiltham by around 40,000 votes, ending up with over 104,000 supporters behind her.
That victory handed her control over a £24 million annual budget and gave Reform a powerful foothold in local government.
Immigration policies and cost-cutting promises — including quirky ideas like introducing a “British DOGE” system to tackle council waste — were central to her campaign.
A Wider Battle on the Local Front
Reform’s momentum wasn’t just felt in Lincolnshire.
In North Tyneside, the party came incredibly close to snatching another mayoral seat, missing out to Labour by just 444 votes.
Despite the narrow loss, the results suggested that Reform’s message is starting to shake up the local political scene.
“The Fightback Has Begun”
In her post-election speech, Jenkyns was quick to take aim at opponents.
She declared that “the fightback to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun,” pledging to push back against what she called “soft-touch Britain.”
She also doubled down on Reform’s hardline stance against illegal migration, even suggesting tents as an alternative to hotels for housing arrivals.
Music, Politics, and Pop Culture
Interestingly, this wasn’t Jenkyns’ first musical moment in politics.
Back in 2016, she famously sang ABBA’s Mamma Mia live on BBC Radio 5 after challenging Labour’s Ed Balls to a duet.
That was the same Ed Balls she defeated in 2015, ending his ten-year run as an MP.
Clearly, mixing music and politics has become something of a trademark for her.
Farage Steps Into the Spotlight
After Jenkyns’ performance, the stage was handed over to Reform leader Nigel Farage.
Arriving with fireworks and fanfare, the 61-year-old entered the hall fresh from a visit to the Oval Office, where he had met with Donald Trump.
His mood was upbeat, but his message was sharp: the Government, he said, is “in deep crisis.”
A Fierce Attack on Labour’s Leadership
Farage wasted no time addressing Angela Rayner’s resignation, claiming it exposed how unfit the Government was to run the country.
He slammed the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister over reports that she underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty, calling it a scandal that “screams entitlement.”
For Farage, it was proof that Labour’s promises of a new style of politics had already failed.
A Warning Shot at the Government
As rumours swirled of an impending Cabinet reshuffle, Farage told the Birmingham crowd that it didn’t matter who was appointed next — in his view, the entire Government was incapable of leading Britain.
“They are not fit to govern,” he declared, making sure his words cut through just as sharply as Jenkyns’ song had done at the start of the rally.