Reform UK Leader Gives 'Guarantee' Not to Step Aside for Tories in Election

The Reform UK leader has assured his party that they will not make way for the Conservative Party in the upcoming general election, breaking away from their previous strategy in 2019. Then, under the name Brexit Party, they had not contested 317 seats won by the Tories as part of an agreement with Boris Johnson over Brexit.

Richard Tice confirmed to party officials that they will not repeat such a pact, indicating a more confrontational approach towards the Conservative Party. This move is likely to increase internal cohesion among senior members who had defected back to Reform UK, such as deputy leader Ben Habib and former MEP Ann Widdecombe.

Ben Habib expressed his ambition to "obliterate" the Conservative Party, criticizing the continued success of failing incumbents. While Nigel Farage, now honorary president of Reform, has criticized the current Conservative leadership, his rhetoric has been less about destroying the party compared to Tice's.

Reform UK's commitment to compete for every seat could create challenges for the Conservatives. Analyses suggest the Tories could lose up to 35 seats due to split votes. Reform's support sits at 9% according to a recent Opinium poll and is proving to be particularly appealing to the working-class demographic that supported the Conservatives in the last election. Moreover, the same poll indicates that if Farage were to become leader again, 37% of current Conservative voters might favor Reform UK.

Amid speculation of Farage potentially reengaging with the Conservative Party, Reform UK is set to frame the upcoming election around immigration issues, aiming to capitalize on divisions within the Conservatives over policies such as the Rwandan asylum seeker deportation plan.