Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, visited Westhoughton Golf Club in Bolton on April 9th, a location described as an unusual and secluded spot for a political rally, situated at the end of a single-track road amidst a new housing estate. His purpose was to address prospective Reform candidates ahead of the upcoming local council elections in May. The Manchester Evening News was one of the few media outlets present at the event, a stark contrast to a previous high-profile campaign launch in Denton.

The visit comes after a mixed start to the year for Reform UK in the Greater Manchester region. While the party suffered a loss in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with candidate Matt Goodwin coming second to the Green Party's Hannah Spencer, they did manage to increase their share of the vote. More recently, Reform UK secured a win in the Tottington by-election, where candidate George Martin garnered over 300 votes to become the third Reform councillor on Bury Council. The party has established a presence with at least one councillor in seven out of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs, including three each in Bury and Oldham, two each in Rochdale and Wigan, and one each in Bolton and Tameside, a momentum they aim to build upon.

Ahead of his speech to candidates, Farage engaged in a wide-ranging interview with the Manchester Evening News. He touched on various topics, including the Gorton and Denton by-election outcome, the impending local elections, and his controversial view that the North West has been turned into a 'dumping ground' for 'young men crossing the Channel.' He highlighted the 'fascinating' way Andy Burnham was blocked from standing in a February by-election.

Addressing the party's strategy following the Gorton and Denton loss, Farage was resolute, stating, 'Oh Lord no,' when asked if their approach had changed. He asserted it was 'the best by-election campaign we've ever fought' in terms of professionalization and developing a canvassing app. Farage then turned his attention to allegations of election integrity issues, claiming that the 'big lessons' from Gorton and Denton regarding 'family voting' were ignored by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), who found 'no evidence' despite claims from independent election observer group Democracy Volunteers. He voiced long-standing concerns about the abuse of the private polling booth system and the impact of 'Commonwealth voting' by individuals with Pakistani passports on British parliamentary elections, suggesting it skews results.

Farage also outlined what 'Reform' means for the North West. Beyond stopping the region from being a 'dumping ground' – citing that the North West had taken 17 times more young men who crossed the channel than the South East – he spoke of a grander, longer-term goal: reindustrializing the North West. He criticized current energy policy for leading to the world's most expensive industrial energy and the closure of various manufacturing sectors. Farage advocated for a 'massive change of energy policy,' including exploring the Bowland Reserve of shale gas, alleging that past anti-exploitation campaigns were funded by Russia to protect its market share. He also defended the practice of offering 'paper candidates' as a means to provide voters with a choice.

His message to the gathered candidates, many of whom he called 'political virgins' due to their lack of prior campaigning experience, was simple: 'Get out and work.' He encouraged them to overcome nervousness about knocking on doors, emphasizing the use of the party's newly developed canvassing app and data collection during the 'light summer evenings' when people are home.

The atmosphere at the golf club was understated, with dusty trophies and old photos adorning the stippled walls, and several men drinking pints at the bar. Inside the function room, around 20 to 30 people, smartly dressed with rosettes, awaited their leader. Farage arrived in a 'tank-like black Volvo,' complete with security, and was observed signing wine bottles for a raffle. Dressed in his characteristic tweed jacket, checked shirt, and a red tie adorned with Arabic numerals – a gift from a friend in Dubai – he maintained his usual 'bullish' and 'garrulous' persona. However, interaction with the press was notably standoffish; requests to observe his speech to candidates were denied, with excuses that he 'doesn’t really get to speak one-on-one to candidates much.'

In summary, Farage's appearance was everything one might expect: confident, verbose, and largely dismissive of the media. The tight-lipped responses from departing party members further underscored the controlled environment. The key question remains whether Reform UK's message, delivered from this quiet suburban enclave, will resonate widely enough with the public to achieve their desired increase in political foothold.