Tory MPs pleading with Reform UK not to stand against them, says Richard Tice

Members of the Conservative party are imploring the Reform UK party to refrain from competing against them in the upcoming national elections, according to the head of the populist group with conservative tendencies.

Richard Tice stated that Nigel Farage, who had expressed his belief in heading the Conservative party within three years last year, would have an official position in the Reform party's election campaign.

On Wednesday, the party made an announcement that Ben Habib, who holds the position of deputy leader, would be participating in the upcoming Wellingborough byelection. This action is anticipated to make it more challenging for the Tories to uphold their seat, which Labour is eager to secure for the first time in over two decades, dating back to 1997.

Farage wasn't present at the gathering in downtown London. The event garnered significant media interest, as it was expected that he might make a political comeback. The get-together was marketed as "Richard Tice and guests."

According to Tice, Nigel, the former Ukip leader, is dedicated to making reforms. Tice expressed his confidence in Nigel's commitment by stating that he is already the president of their cause. Tice suggested that instead of being an honorary title, Nigel could be called President Farage just like a potential President Trump.

Farage is considered a "person with significant control" due to his majority shareholding in Reform, according to the information listed on Companies House. In an interview with The Guardian, he denied ever committing to attending the event and clarified that it was Richard's event. When asked if he would return to aid Reform in the future, he only replied with "never say never" and reminded everyone that he holds the position of honorary president.

Farage did not disclose whether he will appear on stage during an upcoming event in Doncaster next February. During this event, Reform is anticipated to declare its representative roster for the general election. Nonetheless, Farage included that the occasion is significant.

New surveys show that Reform has gained considerable support of up to 11%. They have also promised to field candidates in all the areas of England, Scotland, and Wales during the upcoming general election. This move could pose a greater challenge to the Tories and further undermine Rishi Sunak's majority by ousting various MPs.

As the new year begins, the act of making special requests has already commenced. Tice shared that he receives regular phone calls from members of the Conservative party asking him to not publicly associate with them, using statements such as "Please don’t stand here. Please don’t stand. I’m one of the nice guys." However, Tice reaffirmed that he would not make any special agreements with Sunak's political party, no matter the situation.

In 2019, the Conservative Party gained a majority in the election. This occurred after the Brexit party, which was previously known as Reform, chose not to compete against the Conservatives in the 317 constituencies the Conservatives had won in the 2017 election. In exchange for this agreement, Boris Johnson promised to leave the European Union by 2020 and pursue a trade deal similar to the one that Canada has.

He chose not to disclose the exact number of Conservative MPs or councilors he was in conversation with. However, he did mention that the number was substantial. Additionally, he stated that numerous discontented Conservative sponsors were also reaching out to him.

During the media event, he criticized the Conservative party's stance on tax and immigration while highlighting that Lee Anderson, the party's deputy chair, was anxious about Reform taking over his position. It was claimed last month that Anderson was offered a substantial sum of money by Reform as an incentive to switch parties, which Reform has denied.

On Wednesday, the Tories gave a reaction via their party chair, Richard Holden, in reply to Reform. Holden expressed that placing a ballot for Reform would only benefit the Labour party. According to him, the Conservatives are determined to make far-reaching decisions for the nation, including measures such as stopping migration by sea, decreasing inflation rates, and reducing taxes. Holden emphasized that if people wish to see genuine progress towards a better future, then voting for the Conservatives is the sole option.