Reform UK leader Richard Tice to stand in Boston and Skegness (original) (raw)

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Richard Tice announced his intention to stand in Boston and Skegness on Thursday morning

The leader of Reform UK has announced he is to stand as a candidate in Boston and Skegness at the general election.

Richard Tice announced his intention to stand in the Lincolnshire constituency on social media on Thursday morning.

In a statement, the GB News presenter said he would "do my bit to help" the party in the campaign.

According to Mr Tice, the party would stand in 630 seats across England, Scotland and Wales "no ifs, no buts".

"Contrary to what all the commentators say, the likes of my good friend Lee Anderson and myself, we are going to win seats," he said.

At the launch of Reform's campaign, Mr Tice said the prime minister was "absolutely terrified" by his party's upward progress in the polls at a time when the Tories have slumped.

"He was terrified as to where this may end up," Mr Tice said.

Mr Tice also hit out at high levels of net migration and the "weak, feeble politicians who have broken Britain", the PA News agency reported.

It comes after Rishi Sunak announced a UK general election for Thursday 4 July 2024.

He said that the fall in inflation, along with the UK's emergence from recession earlier this year, were "proof that the plan and priorities" he had set out were working.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was "time for change" away from "Tory chaos".

Analysis by Sharon Edwards, political reporter BBC Lincolnshire

Boston notched-up the biggest Brexit vote in the 2016 EU referendum, at more than 75%.

In recent years, it and, more notably, Skegness have been the centre of anti-immigration anger over the use of local hotels to house asylum seekers.

So, is this a rich seam for Reform UK's Richard Tice to mine?

Brexit has happened, of course, and most of the hotels have been emptied.

But Reform UK would argue that it's not just about immigration. Its messages on the NHS and the cost of living could resonate in this area which struggles to attract dentists and GPs and where deprivation has stubbornly remained.

But, in a way, we've been here before. The then UKIP leader Paul Nuttall stood in the 2017 election in Boston and Skegness and was beaten into third place, taking 7.7% of votes.

It's not called one of the safest Conservative seats in the country for nothing.

Parliament will be suspended on Friday, before it is formally shut down on Thursday next week ahead of an official five-week election campaign.

A complete list of candidates standing in the Boston and Skegness constituency will be available on the BBC website after nominations close.