The Reform Party has claimed that the Rochdale by-election was not ‘free and fair’. Their leader, Richard Tice, said that his party had suffered intimidation on the campaign trail including ‘vile racist abuse’. It was certainly an ugly election battle, one dominated by the conflict in Gaza – and, because of that focus, George Galloway of the Workers Party triumphed. But say what you like about ‘Gaza George’, but he has one crucial commodity for a politician that Tice lacks: charisma.

As long as Tice remains leader, the Reform Party will remain also-rans

Galloway, of course, one participated in the most ‘cringeworthy’ moment in the history of reality TV – as voted by British viewers – when he pretended to be a cat in an episode of Celebrity Big Brother. That would have finished many a career, but George has in him as many political comebacks as a cat has lives.

Unlike Galloway, Tice is light on such charisma and it’s holding back Reform. There was much chatter last month when the party took 13 per cent of the vote in the Wellingborough by-election and 10 per cent of the vote in Kingswood. ‘Reform UK celebrates best-ever by-election result’, was the headline on Sky News. True, it was the ‘best-ever’ result but given the state of Labour and the Tories that’s not saying much.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden was correct in assessing the Reform performances in Wellingborough and Kingswood as ‘disappointing’. They should be winning these seats, not patting themselves on the back for reaching double figures. Holden referenced the 2014 by-elections in Clacton and Rochester, both won by Reform’s predecessor, the Nigel Farage-led Ukip, with majorities of 42 per cent and 59 per cent respectively.

When I was interviewed by Tice on his Talk TV show, Sunday Sermon, last year, we discussed Europe’s migrant crisis and were in broad agreement that neither Britain nor the EU were up to the challenge.

QOSHE - Reform should ditch Richard Tice before it’s too late - Gavin Mortimer
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Reform should ditch Richard Tice before it’s too late

6 0
01.03.2024

The Reform Party has claimed that the Rochdale by-election was not ‘free and fair’. Their leader, Richard Tice, said that his party had suffered intimidation on the campaign trail including ‘vile racist abuse’. It was certainly an ugly election battle, one dominated by the conflict in Gaza – and, because of that focus, George Galloway of the Workers Party triumphed. But say what you like about ‘Gaza George’, but he has one crucial commodity for a politician that Tice lacks:........

© The Spectator


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