Joanne Woodhouse and Henry Godwin live at opposite ends of England and used to sit on opposite sides of the political fence -- until both decamped to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party.

Woodhouse, a one-time Labour voter in northwest England, and Godwin, a former Tory (Conservative) based near London, were among those at the hard-right party's annual conference Saturday, as it celebrated its surging popularity.

The middle-aged pair appeared typical examples of anti-immigration Reform's ability to draw disaffected voters from both its right-wing Conservative rival and centre-left Labour, as it builds on an unprecedented performance in local elections in May.

"I want to see a big change," Woodhouse, an independent local elected official in Merseyside who joined Reform two months ago, told AFP at the two-day event in Birmingham, central England.

The 57-year-old voted for Brexit in 2016 because she "wanted our borders to be closed" and backs Reform "to protect our community, our traditions".

"I'm totally disappointed by Labour -- disappointed by everything they are doing. People are struggling."

Godwin, 52, a free speech advocate most concerned by perceived curbs on freedom of expression,........

© International Business Times