Reform flogs £20 MAGA-style hats and £15 Lets Save Britain t-shirts (that are made in Bangladesh) at off-beat conference... while Nigel Farage promises to join delegates on the booze

Reform UK are flogging £20 MAGA-style hats and £15 Lets Save Britain t-shirts, which are made in Bangladesh, as the partys conference began today.

The two-day event, being held at Birminghams National Exhibition Centre, saw party leader Nigel Farage given a rapturous reception by activists.

As he arrived at the conference venue, the 60-year-old said he was looking forward to having a drink later. Thats what normal people do, he added.

Mr Farage said todays opening of the Birmingham gathering was the day our party comes of age, as it looks to build on winning five seats at Julys general election.

The former UKIP leader has attracted a number of celebrity followers over the years and comedian Jim Davidson was seen queuing to enter the conference this morning.

Later on, adventurer Ant Middleton - who starred on TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins - addressed Reform members from the conference stage.

Reform UKs merchandise stand was selling caps with the slogan Lets Save Britain, in an apparent nod to Donald Trump s Make America Great Again headwear

One Reform UK delegate was spotted wearing an authentic MAGA hat 

T-shirts were also sale at the Reform UK conference, with some adorned with the slogan Lets Save Britain - although it was spotted the clothing was imported from Bangladesh

Another conference attendee wore a T-shirt featuring Nigel Farage on the opening day of the Reform gathering in Birmingham

As he arrived at the conference venue, Mr Farage said he was looking forward to having a drink later. Thats what normal people do, he added.

Ant Middleton - who starred on TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins - addressed Reform members from the conference stage

The partys open-top election battle bus was given pride of place in the venues main hall 

Conferencen delegates take a selfie with a Reform UK-themed London taxi

The partys open-top election battle bus was given pride of place in the venues main hall, while - just outside - sat a London taxi bedecked in Reform colours.

The merchandise stand was selling caps with the slogan Lets Save Britain, in an apparent nod to Donald Trumps Make America Great Again headwear.

T-shirts bearing the same Lets Save Britain slogan were also on sale although, as first reported by the Daily Mirror, the clothing had been imported from Bangladesh.

Mr Farage vowed to build an election-winning machine as he spoke to reporters shortly after arriving at the conference.

Setting out his aim to professionalise his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labour in power at the 2029 general election.

He claimed the next few years could see a seismic sea change in British politics although he admitted there was work to be done to overhaul Reforms structures.

During this years general election campaign, Reform were forced to ditch a number of parliamentary candidates over offensive comments.

Mr Farage admitted the racism rows that hit the party in recent months damage the work of thousands of others.

The Reform leader later received a standing ovation as he entered the main conference hall to a remix version of Diamonds by Rihanna.

One delegate was spotted wearing a God, Guns and Trump hat at the Birmingham event

Mr Farage vowed to build an election-winning machine as he arrived at Reform UKs conference in Birmingham

Setting out his aim to professionalise his party, Mr Farage joined other senior figures in suggesting Reform could replace Labour in power at the 2029 general election

Mr Farage admitted the racism rows that hit the party in recent months damage the work of thousands of others

Speaking to journalists, Mr Farage set out his efforts to professionalise Reform.

It means weeding out candidates that are totally inappropriate and damage the work of thousands of others, he said.

Lets face it, the last election a lot of those candidates hadnt been vetted at all. That has to change, that will change.

It also means building a structure on the ground - thats a mixture of professional help but, clearly, its the voluntary side in the end that will make it happen.

What today is about is building branches, fielding candidates, fighting the county elections next year, its about building an election-winning machine.

The Lib Dems have done it in parts of the country and thats what we have to do.

On Reforms chances of winning the next general election, Mr Farage added: I think if ever theres going to be a seismic sea change in politics, its in the next few years.

And asked if that could seen him become prime minister, he replied: Me or somebody other who is better looking.

Mr Farage was set to use his keynote conference address on Friday afternoon to issue a clarion call for change.