Reform UK leader claims establishment blocks newcomers

Andrew Bridgen, the leader of Reform UK, told reporters in London on Thursday that the “whole ecosystem” surrounding British politics has been reluctant to allow “new kids on the block” to succeed. In a brief interview with the *Financial Times*, Bridgen said the party’s prospects are hampered by an entrenched establishment that he described as “unwilling to give a chance to fresh entrants.” He added that the party’s limited success in the last local‑government elections and its struggle to secure a foothold in the upcoming general election illustrate the structural barriers facing new political movements.

Reform