Why Richard Tice chose Boston and Skegness for Reform UK battleground revealed (original) (raw)

It's no coincidence the Reform UK leader and business tycoon opted for this Lincolnshire seat.

17:29, Thu, May 23, 2024 | UPDATED: 17:46, Thu, May 23, 2024

Reform UK Announce General Election Plans in London

Richard Tice launches Reform UK's campaign in London (Image: Getty)

Reform UK leader Richard Tice has revealed the constituency he is targeting at the General Election on July 4 - Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire.

The reason is simple: Brexit. Boston and Skegness was the highest Brexit backing area in the UK during the 2016 referendum; 74.9 percent of voters put their cross in the Leave box.

Following an UnHerd poll in 2023, the constituency retained its crown as Britain's home of Euroscepticism, with more of its residents rejecting the claim that Brits regretted Brexit than anywhere else.

Thus, it follows that the constituency is the most likely to back the party whose honorary chair is the godfather of the UK leaving the EU, Nigel Farage.

Speaking at the party's campaign launch in London, Mr Tice branded Rishi Sunak "absolutely terrified" of Reform UK's potential to damage the Tories' electoral performance.

Pro-Brexit Lincolnshire A Target For UKIP At The General Election

Boston and Skegness is the strongest Brexit-supporting area in the UK (Image: Getty)

He told the event that Mr Sunak had "bottled it" by calling a snap election and not waiting until the autumn, adding: "He was terrified as to where this may end up." Despite the upbeat the energy at the event, the party was dealt a blow not long after the election date was revealed.

GB News presenter Farage announced he would not be standing. Mr Tice insisted Mr Farage “will be helping out significantly” during the general election campaign.

The party leader said: “Contrary to what all the commentators say, the likes of my good friend Lee Anderson and myself, we are going to win seats.”

Former Tory grandee Ann Widdecombe was also at the event. She said: “The crucial issue in this forthcoming General Election is going to be immigration, and the impact that it is having.”

Reform UK Announce General Election Plans in London

Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe says the election will be fought on immigration (Image: Getty)

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She added: “Having been in the Home Office, and having been admittedly a long time ago immigration minister, I know very well that immigration has a tremendous impact on the country. There is no such thing as an economic movement which doesn’t impact right across the scale.”

She said it had an impact on the health service, housing, and infrastructure, adding: “That is what we are now facing, and that is why uncontrolled immigration is at the root of so much that is going wrong.”

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