Nigel Farage has always been keen to emphasise his status as a global figure. Whether it is his friendships with America’s Donald Trump or Australia’s Pauline Hanson, the Reform UK leader likes to see himself as part of a wave of ‘new right’ figures across the globe, championing national sovereignty and borders. One of those he has forged ties with is Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally in France. Marine Le Pen, the RN party leader, is currently polling as the favourite for next May’s presidential election: if elected, Bardella will serve as her Prime Minister. Farage had lunch with the young Frenchman last December, discussing plans to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
Since then, the relationship only seems to have deepened. For The Spectator can today reveal that Bardella will appear as the headline guest at Reform’s party conference in Birmingham in six weeks’ time. A senior party source confirmed the story, saying that: ‘Jordan and Nigel get along extremely well, they bonded over their shared political interests over a long lunch. Jordan has already promised publicly that he will change the law in order to allow Nigel to turn the boats back to France – this will be a new dawn for Europe.’ Bardella is scheduled to speak on the Friday of the three-day shindig, with his remarks expected to focus on the fight for France, the upcoming election and how the RN and Reform parties would work together in office.
His appearance fits with the recent tradition of Reform’s conferences. In 2024, it was Timo Soini, onetime leader of the True Finns; in 2025 it was Preston Manning, founder of the Reform Party of Canada. Bardella’s appearance will be held up as proof by Farage that the tides lifting his party’s fortunes are carrying their counterparts across the globe. Given RN’s recent run-ins with the French courts, expect to hear plenty of talk at the Birmingham NEC about the establishment and political stitch-ups.
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