Forest on the fringe
The party conference season starts this week and 2025 is a first for Forest because we are hosting our first ever event at Reform UK's party conference.
The event takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday (6th September), and we are delighted to welcome a brilliant panel of guests who will address the following:
The Labour Government intends to ban the sale of tobacco to all future generations of adults. If the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law, what will it say about personal freedom in Britain today, and how should Reform UK respond to this and other nanny state policies supported by successive Conservative and Labour governments?
Interestingly, when we sent an email to Forest’s 3,500 subscribers to publicise the event, a number unsubscribed citing reasons such as:
‘Your support for Nigel Farage and his party of twats.’
‘I’ve no interest in association with the Reform Party.’
‘Sucking up to Reform and being a cheerleader for Farage.’
‘Watch who you associate with. It can alienate your base.’
‘Reform is a step too far for me. I cannot stand Farage and his hoodmen.’
This morning another unsubscriber wrote:
‘Any group that promotes Reform will no longer get my support. I will now unsubscribe from your website.’
That was a direct email. I thought it deserved a polite response, so I wrote:
Thank you for your feedback. I won’t try to change your decision but I would like to assure you that Forest does not support or endorse any political party.
Our decision to host a fringe meeting at this year’s Reform UK party conference was taken on the pragmatic basis that, according to the polls, Reform UK could win the next general election and could form the next government, either as a majority government or in coalition with another party.
In the circumstances it would be remiss of Forest not to engage with the party and its supporters, especially as Reform is probably the only UK party that might repeal the generational tobacco ban that Labour intends to introduce and is supported by many Conservative MPs.
Similar legislation was repealed in New Zealand after the ACT party made it a condition of joining the National Party in a centre-right coalition government, so it makes sense for us to try and persuade Reform to do the same, should the opportunity arise. We can only do that by engaging with the party through the various means available to us, and that includes hosting a fringe event at their conference.
Please note too that we are far from alone. The full list of fringe meetings and sponsors has not yet been released, but I know that several reputable Westminster think tanks will be present, hosting or taking part in fringe events, and corporate sponsors include the likes of Heathrow Airport.
There will be many, many more and none of them will see this as endorsing the party. Like Forest, it will be a pragmatic decision based on the political reality that the party could be in government after the next election and we cannot ignore that.
I can’t say I’m surprised by the response to our event because it’s no secret that Farage and Reform divide public opinion. I was however surprised by a subsequent dig at the Institute of Economic Affairs, ‘another very dubious think tank’ according to our correspondent. I couldn’t ignore that either so I wrote back, pointing out that:
The late Lord Harris, our chairman from 1987-2006, was one of the founders of the IEA. Over the years we have organised many events at the IEA, and IEA staff have spoken at many of our well publicised events. I’m surprised you’ve only just noticed!
Anyway, as readers (and friends) know, I have expressed reservations about Reform and Nigel Farage both publicly and privately so it feels a strange to be portrayed as a cheerleader for both.
Unfortunately, politics is now so polarised that even hosting a fringe event makes you a supporter of that party in the eyes of some of our (former) subscribers. The remarkable thing is that by dragging the IEA (‘another very dubious think tank’) into the argument, I’m surprised they signed up in the first place.
Update: Other organisations hosting events at the Reform conference include the Local Government Association. Just saying.
See also: Forest and Farage – a brief history (Taking Liberties)
Nigel Farage during 'A Beer and a Fag with Farage' event organised by Forest at the Comedy Store in Manchester on the second day of the Conservative Party conference in 2013. Photo: PA Images/Alamy
