Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage held a rally at Doncaster Racecourse on Thursday, saying the Prime Minister has "opened the door to Reform in the most extraordinary way" by reigniting the Brexit debate.
Farage said he was "very surprised" by Andy Burnham's discussion of rejoining the European Union. The Prime Minister promised to set out options on the country's ties to Brussels, later acknowledging this could include an option to rejoin if public opinion favoured it.
Speaking ahead of the rally, which kicked off a nationwide tour, Farage said: "Burnham was popular but I think by saying to people, let's have a debate again, let's have a referendum again on whether we rejoin the European Union, will not make him very popular at all."
Brexit vote dividing communities
Farage highlighted Doncaster's 70% Leave vote. "Here I am in Doncaster where 70% voted Leave and a decade later the Prime Minister is saying sorry chaps, you got it wrong, we've got to rethink this," he said.
"I don't think it'll prove very popular at all. Here in Doncaster and across the North of England, I think what he's done is open the door to Reform in the most extraordinary way."
Reform on Doncaster Council
Reform hold the majority of councillors on Doncaster Council, although the authority is led by directly-elected Labour Mayor Ros Jones. Since the local elections in 2025, Reform has had three leaders in the city.
Asked about the changes in leadership, Farage said: "We are the largest individual group and there are chops and changes, people get elected to local government but they have the rest of their lives to lead. This is not unique to us, it happens to other parties as well. Is it perfect? No, it certainly isn't. The principles, ideas and values upon which they were elected remain."
Doncaster's Reform leader Howard Rimmer was recently criticised after telling a council meeting that because the borough was meeting its housebuilding targets, there was no housing crisis. Farage said he did not know Doncaster "intimately" but stressed there was "a housing crisis everywhere" due to high rents and the cost of living crisis.
Prison releases and wider issues
Farage also addressed early prison releases taking place across England and Wales under a new government scheme designed to free up prison space. While critical of the Labour government, he acknowledged the Conservatives had 14 years to build more prison places but did not.
"The population has increased in the last 20 years, there is no doubt there is more criminality now than 20 years ago and we need to build more prisons, there's no way around it," he said.