Reform UK Durham Meeting: Alan Mendoza on Brexit, Security and Energy

The Reform UK Durham Meeting, one of several branch meetings dedicated to policy discussions, on 27 Jan 2026 covered a lot more than local housekeeping. It turned into a wide-ranging discussion about Brexit, national security, energy costs, and what a tougher, more confident Britain could look like.

That matters in County Durham and the wider Red Wall because many working-class residents already feel squeezed by high bills, the recent cut to the winter fuel allowance, pressure on GP and NHS access, struggling town centres amid economic decline, and young people leaving the North East to find better chances elsewhere. The message from the night was simple: if the basics at home are wobbling, Britain can’t act strongly abroad either.

A warm Durham welcome, and why the night mattered

The strong turnout was a successful example of community engagement for the party, reflecting the patriotic values of attendees from surrounding villages, other branches, and even university students. The meeting opened with a New Year greeting and a genuine welcome to these visitors, including a playful nod to students that campus politics can sometimes be less welcoming than the winter weather.

There was also a brief, very human moment of confusion over music being turned on and off, which set the tone for an informal evening rather than a polished stage show.

Thanks were given to Dave and the committee of the club hosting the event, with a pitch for joining. The membership was described as £5 a year, with the point that bar discounts can quickly cover that cost.

Dr Alan Mendoza was introduced as the guest speaker, attending after being appointed as Reform UK’s adviser on global affairs and foreign policy for the party led by Nigel Farage. The chair also outlined his background, including senior work with the Henry Jackson Society, and presented him as someone who supports Ukraine’s independence, pushing back on claims that Reform sympathises with Vladimir Putin. Attendees were reminded of upcoming events for the branch to keep the momentum going.

Brexit after Brexit: trade with Europe, without giving up control

A big part of Mendoza’s argument was that Brexit itself wasn’t the core problem. In his view, the problem was what happened after the vote: leaders who didn’t set out a clear destination, then got outmanoeuvred in negotiations.

He also criticised what he described as attempts to edge the UK closer to European structures again without a clear electoral mandate. His framing was that Britain should be able to trade freely with European neighbours, but must take back control and not accept arrangements that weaken sovereignty, or invite punitive measures when Britain takes a different path. Any future deals must be transparent to the British people to ensure that mandate.

Rather than picking fights for show, he argued for building relationships with political allies across Europe now, so that any future renegotiation looks like a practical deal, not a replay of past standoffs. He pointed to possible political shifts on the continent, including the possibility of major change in France, as a reminder that Europe isn’t fixed forever.

The underlying pitch was that Reform should aim for a relationship that looks more like a straight trade partnership, while keeping decision-making in the UK.

Security at home: radical Islam, migration pressures, and one law for all

On radical Islam, Mendoza spoke from the standpoint of having studied the subject for two decades. He stressed that Islam is not one thing, and that many Muslims live ordinary lives, yet he argued that militant and separatist currents have grown in strength and should be confronted directly.

One example raised was disorder linked to a football fixture in Birmingham. His claim was that authorities feared extremist violence and, instead of tackling threats head-on, ended up taking decisions that looked like collective punishment and restrictions based on politics. The worry he highlighted was bigger than any one incident: when institutions bend under intimidation, public trust breaks.

He also said extremists don’t just target wider society, they threaten moderate Muslims first, by trying to enforce harsh rules inside their own communities.

The test, as he put it, is whether Britain is prepared to name radical Islam plainly, then act against it, rather than avoiding the topic.

Immigration Control

Migration also drew strong comments, both illegal migration and legal routes. On illegal migration, he argued for a tougher stance towards French cooperation and for stopping small boats by ending what he called the “soft touch” incentives. On legal migration, he focused on scale and churn, arguing that headline net figures can hide very large inflows and outflows, which still put strain on housing and infrastructure for British people.

A later question raised Sharia and parallel systems. Mendoza’s answer leaned heavily into one law for everyone, and he argued that integration doesn’t happen by accident where areas become heavily segregated. He also supported requiring English language and shared civic expectations. An example raised from the floor was how religious rules can harm vulnerable people, including issues around guide dogs.

Britain’s place in the world: power, allies, energy, and national confidence

Mendoza returned often to “first principles”, starting with the idea that foreign policy should begin with what benefits the British people. That led him to argue for leaving international bodies that don’t serve the UK’s interests, and for using Britain’s strengths more boldly, including our diplomatic reach and permanent UN Security Council seat. He said Britain should not be shy about power that it already holds, including the veto, and noted how rarely it has been used for decades.

He also talked about stopping dictators early, arguing that concession and delay often invite more aggression. This theme came up in discussion of Russia and Ukraine, where he backed Ukrainian independence while criticising vague promises that Britain cannot realistically enforce.

To keep the key themes easy to scan, here’s how the night connected global questions back to everyday life for the British people in County Durham:

Theme	What Mendoza argued	Why it lands locally
Europe after Brexit	Trade is fine, sovereignty isn’t optional	Jobs and investment depend on stable trade rules
Defence and deterrence	Rebuild capability, don’t bluff	Weak forces invite risk, and defence spending can support skilled work
Energy security	Use domestic supply, expand nuclear	High bills hit households and small firms first
Social cohesion	Integration and one law	Communities lose trust when rules feel uneven

Energy security became one of the most grounded parts of the discussion, because everyone feels it in their monthly bills. Mendoza argued that high energy prices, fueled by the Net Zero agenda, damage families and crush business growth, so Britain should use domestic oil and gas where possible, reconsider the role of coal, and rebuild nuclear capacity, particularly as we seek to reindustrialize Britain through a coherent industrial policy that supports key assets like British Steel. A pointed example came up around biomass, with criticism of importing wood for power generation.

Farming and food security followed naturally, especially in a largely rural county. Several speakers warned about pressure on farmland for wind and solar projects, and argued that food supply and rural life should be protected as strategic priorities, not treated as an afterthought, with Durham County Council playing a key role in land use planning.

Trust, institutions, and the push to win locally

One of the most striking moments came when a County Durham resident challenged the speaker directly: why should anyone believe this won’t become another round of politicians switching badges and carrying on as usual?

Mendoza’s reply was personal. He emphasized the need for Reform UK candidates to faithfully represent the British people, spoke about wanting a country his children can grow up in with the same chances he had, and described how his own education was helped by a state scheme that supported bright children from families without money. The point he kept returning to was that Reform’s energy has to come from ordinary members pushing upward, not from a top-down machine, with local elections as the primary venue for real change.

He also argued that winning elections isn’t enough if institutions remain hostile or politicised. Examples raised included universities where students reportedly support banning Reform from campus debate, and schools where political pressure shapes who is allowed to speak. His view was that any incoming government must insist on neutrality in public institutions, and be willing to change how the civil service is managed if it blocks elected priorities.

For readers who want to step up locally, this is a useful starting point on the practical side of getting involved, including volunteer opportunities: guide for ordinary people to run for election.

The evening ended with a strong vote of thanks, and a clear push for members to support campaigning in areas holding elections, with “mutual aid” from branches that are not voting this year.

Conclusion

The County Durham meeting made one thing clear: national debates about borders, energy, and security aren’t abstract, they shape whether towns thrive for the British people, whether bills stay manageable, and whether public services cope. The pitch from the platform was for a tougher, more self-reliant country that rebuilds confidence at home and credibility abroad.

If you’re ready to stop waiting for better and start building it, Join Reform UK, get involved locally ahead of the local elections on May 1st, and help put integrity back at the centre of public life. When election day comes, Vote Reform UK and back Reform UK candidates, the only straight-talking alternative offering real change that says what it means. For many in the room, that’s what “Make Britain Great Again” is meant to sound like in practice.