TUV 'greatly welcome' Nigel Farage as new leader of Reform UK
Nigel Farage has made a shock return to British politics announcing he is to make an eighth bid to become an MP – and taking over the leadership of the insurgent Reform UK party from Richard Tice.
The move has been welcomed by the TUV – who are in an electoral alliance with the party now led by Mr Farage – with Jim Allister’s party saying it will boost Reform.
A TUV spokesperson said: “Nigel Farage is a household name which we have no doubt will give Reform UK a bounce across the UK.
“This, of course, is something we greatly welcome given that Reform UK are the only political party in Great Britain committed to securing a full and proper Brexit for the entire UK, including Northern Ireland.”
The news is another blow to Rishi Sunak’s bumpy general election campaign, which has been beset by gaffes and a series of defections – as well as high profile Tories quitting electoral politics.
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Mr Farage has both the Conservatives and Labour in his sights – saying he wants to lead a “political revolt” against both parties.
He has repeatedly denied he intended to run in recent weeks. Explaining his U-turn, the new Reform UK leader said he had felt a “terrible sense of guilt”.
“Difficult though it is, I can’t let down those millions of people.
“So I have decided I’ve changed my mind, it’s allowed you know, it’s not always a sign of weakness, it could potentially be a sign of strength. So I am going to stand in this election", he said. The former Brexit Party and UKIP chief said he wanted people to turn their backs “on the political status quo".
“It doesn’t work,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Colonel Tim Collins, the Ulster Unionist candidate in North Down, writing in today’s News Letter says that the DUP must own the lack of change to the Irish Sea border in the Stormont restoration deal.