Chris Mason: Reform winded by donations row as insiders call for shift in approach

"We are still a bit of a pirate ship," a senior Reform figure acknowledges privately.

It was the recurring conversation throughout Reform UK's conference in Birmingham: the consequences of the undercover filming broadcast by Channel 4 News which has cost two senior party figures their jobs, at least for now .

How much damage does it cause to Reform? And what does it tell us about them?

"A key part of the appeal of us is the sense of us being cavaliers. Doing things differently. Standing out. And that's great. But we need roundheads too. Those who ask the boring questions. Do the checks. We need more of them too," this same senior figure adds.

The story of Reform over the last 12 months can be summarised in three words: defections, elections and money.

Reform donations row overshadows party's moment to lay out big ideas

Farage threatens to overhaul Lords and judges to meet his pledges

Defections, those who leave one party and join another, have been a big part of the party's growth in the last year – not least the recruitment of former Conservative cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman.