Key Points
- Nigel Farage visited Worthing on Thursday, April 30, as part of a Sussex campaign tour ahead of local elections next week.
- Two Reform UK open-top campaign buses were seen on The Promenade during the visit.
- The Worthing appearance followed recent stops in Crawley, Ardingly and Crowborough.
- Reform UK has set out proposals for West Sussex focused on roads, infrastructure, youth services, public spending, crime prevention, housing, transport, digital connectivity, and skills.
- The party says it would redirect £60 million from net zero projects into roads and local infrastructure.
- Reform UK also says it would prioritise durable road repairs, tackle potholes, increase verge cutting, and improve routine maintenance.
- The party’s plans include restoring funding for youth activities through community grants.
- It also pledges to cut consultancy and administration spending, strengthen public protection, and back visible action against shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
- West Sussex County Council’s Reform UK group leader Gary Markwell said it was a pleasure to welcome Nigel Farage to the county on April 15.
- Markwell said the talks focused on council tax, local services, overdevelopment, roads, community safety, and stronger local decision-making.
Worthing (Britain Today News) April 30, 2026 – Nigel Farage visited Worthing on Thursday as part of Reform UK’s Sussex campaign push ahead of next week’s local elections.
Nigel Farage’s appearance in the seaside town came as Reform UK stepped up its local pitch to voters in West Sussex, with the party using the visit to highlight its package of spending, transport, roads, crime and community policies.
The Reform UK leader was pictured in Worthing on the afternoon of April 30, while two of the party’s open-top campaign buses were also seen on The Promenade. The visit forms part of a wider run of campaign appearances across Sussex, following earlier stops in Crawley, Ardingly and Crowborough.
Why was Nigel Farage in Worthing?
As reported by Sussex Express, Farage’s Worthing appearance was part of a campaign tour through Sussex with local elections approaching next week. The visit was designed to keep Reform UK visible in coastal and county areas where the party is seeking to build support. Campaign bus sightings on The Promenade underlined the public-facing nature of the visit.
Reform UK has been presenting the tour as a local election drive centred on “practical” and “common-sense” priorities. The party’s message in West Sussex has focused on roads, safer communities, better value for taxpayers and stronger infrastructure.
What are Reform UK’s West Sussex plans?
Reform UK says it would redirect £60 million away from net zero projects and into roads and infrastructure across West Sussex. The party says this would fund investment residents “actually depend on”, especially highways and local infrastructure.
It also says it would launch a county programme of durable road repairs to deal with deteriorating surfaces and potholes. The plan includes regular verge cutting and routine cleaning of road signs, which the party says would improve the day-to-day appearance and condition of local roads.
The party’s social policy messaging also places youth services at the centre of its pitch. Reform UK says it would re-establish funding for local youth activities through community grants, backing clubs and groups that keep young people engaged and safe.
How does Reform UK want to handle spending?
Reform UK says it wants to deliver better value for taxpayers by cutting spending on consultants and administration. It argues that money should instead be directed towards frontline services and that council spending should be easier for residents to understand.
The party also says it would improve transparency on how council money is used. That forms part of a wider argument that local government should be more accountable and less wasteful.
Gary Markwell, who leads the Reform UK group on West Sussex County Council, said on April 15 that it was a pleasure to welcome Farage to the county. Markwell said the discussions covered
“the real pressures people are facing every day,”
including council tax, stretched services and the need to protect communities from overdevelopment.
What did Gary Markwell say?
According to the account linked to the Sussex visit, Markwell said West Sussex needs a council that can stand up against unsustainable housing targets and protect existing infrastructure. He also said the county should focus on fixing roads, supporting frontline services and keeping council tax under control.
Markwell added that community safety and visible policing were central to the discussion. He said local decisions should be made by local people rather than imposed from above.
His comments also touched on national pressures affecting the county, including the cost of living, pressure on public services and the need for stronger, accountable leadership. He said West Sussex “deserves better” and should have a council that delivers common-sense solutions.
What else is in the Reform UK plan?
Reform UK’s West Sussex material also includes promises on public safety, housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs. The party says it would expand enforcement and coordinate with police against shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, scams and rogue traders.
On housing, Reform UK says new developments should fund roads, schools and infrastructure rather than placing pressure on existing communities. It also says it wants to improve transport links so that towns and villages are better connected, including active travel routes where those genuinely support local journeys.
The party further pledges to support local economic growth by improving digital connectivity. It says this would help residents and businesses across West Sussex access more reliable communications.
How does Reform UK link training and jobs?
Reform UK says it would align training and courses with the needs of the local labour market. The party argues that this would help residents move into quality local jobs rather than training that is disconnected from employment demand.
This jobs and skills message is part of the party’s wider effort to present itself as practical and locally focused. It complements the party’s other commitments on roads, safety, and spending restraint.
What does the Worthing visit mean?
The Worthing stop matters because it places Reform UK’s election message in a visible coastal setting just days before local voters go to the polls. The appearance also reflects a broader Sussex strategy, with the party trying to show momentum through repeated visits to towns across the county.
By linking the visit to roads, safety, housing and council spending, Reform UK is attempting to turn a national profile into local campaign traction. The party’s language is aimed at voters concerned about everyday service delivery, especially in areas where infrastructure and public spending are politically sensitive.
