Is Reform UK’s plan to get Farage into No 10 mission impossible?

The party says it has about 200 local branches already and is training local chairmen to open up dozens more.

A workshop for constituency activists was held in London a few weeks ago, and at the party conference, there was a meet-and greet with regional organisers.

Tim Power is the campaign manager for a local branch in Wallasey on Merseyside.

He said there was a vote among members to elect a leadership team and the branch was looking for a regular venue to plan its campaign activities.

“Nigel is a magnet,” Power said. “I can see there is a desire and motivation to launch Reform into this fully national presence.”

The party says these branches will be laser-focused on campaigning in target areas ahead of local elections next May.

Reform UK is aiming to field hundreds of candidates and take seats on county councils in target areas, from Essex and Lincolnshire, to Norfolk and Kent.

When Ukip was reaching its peak in 2013, the party made substantial gains in county council elections. Ukip was the opposition on the county councils in Kent and Lincolnshire, and the party was part of an alliance that took control of the one in Norfolk.

“We’ll be doing much the same when it comes to our thinking and targeting,” one party source said. “But there are different issues.”