Reform protestors have gathered outside the party conference. (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)
Protestors have descended on Reform UK’s conference in Leicester, demanding “fascists out of Leicester!”
The gathering is happening outside ‘s party’s East Midlands Conference at the Athena Events Venue.
Other photos showed protestors with signs saying “refugees welcome” and “stop Reform UK”.
This comes just moments after Reform got another boost as former switching his allegiance from Kemi Badenoch’s party.
Longhi served on the Home Affairs Select Committee and was the MP for Dudley North, but has now claimed the Conservative Party has come under
He said: “The Conservative Party I once identified with — the party of Churchill and Thatcher — has transformed into something unrecognisable, captured by a left-wing influence that masquerades as conservatism at election time while prioritising the wishes of an elite few when in power.
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Protestors have gathered in Leicester. (Image: Getty)
“In recent years it has repeatedly betrayed your trust and Labour have never earned that trust in the first place. I refuse to be part of this ‘uniparty drift’ towards an ever more left-wing agenda.
“If I am fortunate enough to represent people again, I will not shy away from the hard truths and necessary actions. My commitment to the people was evident when I represented Dudley before and it will remain the same if re-elected.”
Longhi is the next in an ever growing line of former making the move over to Reform, after former Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns, Conservative Home founder Tim Montgomerie, and Suella Braverman’s husband.
A new MRP poll also suggested that Labour over the issue of immigration, gaining Farage’s party up to 120 seats at the next election.
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Following the demonstration breaking out, a Reform UK spokesperson told the Express that the protestors should “focus their attention on that represents Leicester”.
Shockat Adam has served as the MP for Leicester South since 2024, running as an Independent, pro-Palestine candidate.
He won 35% of the votes, beating out Labour candidate Jonathan Ashworth (32%) and Tory candidate Gerri Hickton (11%).
The constituency has been a , with an MP from the party representing it since 1987, apart from when the Liberal Democrats controlled it in 2004 and 2005.
When he won the seat in July, Adam said “this is for Gaza” and has since presented a bill recognising the Palestinian state to parliament.