Reform UK’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice has revealed a Labour defector to the party will ‘probably’ be revealed on Tuesday.
The MP for Boston and Skegness has said the defection, which was also mentioned at a press conference by Nigel Farage this week, is being earmarked for the first half of the week, but would not be drawn on who it could be.
It comes after two high-profile switchers joined Reform’s ranks in recent days, former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawai and then former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick.
Jenrick appeared at a joint press conference on Thursday with Farage after he was unceremoniously sacked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after she was informed of details of his impending move to Reform.
After welcoming the former Conservative, Farage pledged a ‘well-known Labour figure’ would be joining the party next week.
Speaking on Times Radio on Saturday, Tice appeared to confirm the move.
‘You’ll see an interesting surprise I think early next week from the other side of the political spectrum,’ he said, before adding the unveiling would take place ‘probably on Tuesday’.
He would not comment on whether the ‘figure’ is an MP, councillor or former politician.
Reform UK’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice has revealed a Labour defector to the party will ‘probably’ be revealed on Tuesday
It comes after two high-profile switchers joined Reform’s ranks in recent days, former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawai and then former Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (left, with Nigel Farage)
He also repeated Farage’s comments this week that Reform is imposing a ‘deadline’ for other defectors of the day of the local elections on May 7.
‘We are a turbo-charged fast car in eighth gear moving forwards at great pace gearing up for the May elections,’ he added.
Tice accused the government of acting as an ‘authoritarian dictatorship’ that ‘cancels elections willy-nilly.’
Around 30 councils which are currently undergoing major reorganisation to ditch two-tier systems of district and county councils, to be replaced with unitary authorities, formally asked the government for a delay to this year’s planned ballots.
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to approve the majority of the requests.
Labour heads are sure to be swimming with fears over who the defector could be, although Chancellor Rachel Reeves looked to play matters down on a visit to County Durham on Friday.
‘Nigel Farage says a lot of things and I think we should all take those with a pinch of salt,’ she told ITV Tyne Tees.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden sang a similar tune, telling broadcasters yesterday he was ‘not worried’.
And one cynical Labour source said this week: ‘Has Farage ever pre-trailed a decent defection?’
It comes after the shock sacking of MP for Newark, Jenrick, by Badenoch after a copy of a draft resignation speech and media plan were allegedly discovered by the Tory leader’s allies.
Jenrick later denied he had left the incriminating evidence lying around, telling reporters that his speech never left his office.
Regardless of how it came to her attention, Badenoch swiftly got rid of her former leadership rival, and he was unveiled as the latest addition to Reform later on Thursday.
