The leader of Reform UK has welcomed the Conservative’s Mayoral candidate for Greater Manchester as he announced his defection to the right-wing Party.
Conservative Defection
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The Conservative Party faced yet another setback as the candidate for the Mayor of Manchester announced he was defecting to Reform UK.
Reform UK The “Home of Conservatism”
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Reform UK has been hailed as “the new home of conservatism” with many Tories recently making the move away from Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.
Dan Barker’s Switch
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Dan Barker, a Tory candidate for the role of Mayor of Greater Manchester, announced his decision to switch sides and was welcomed with open arms.
Tice’s Announcement
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Reform UK leader, Richard Tice, announced online that “Another senior Tory defects to Reform UK” referencing suspended former Tory MP Lee Anderson.
Tice Welcomes Barker to Reform UK
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Tice welcomed Barker to the Reform UK Party by noting his high position as “their Manchester Mayoral candidate” before saying “Welcome Dan!”
Barker Follows Anderson’s Switch
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Barker’s announcement comes just weeks after former Tory MP Lee Anderson made the controversial switch after his suspension from the Tories.
Anderson’s Controversial Comments
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Anderson had his whip suspended by the Conservatives after making controversial comments about the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Anderson’s Islamist Claims
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Anderson claimed that he thought the Mayor of London had allowed himself and the city of London to be controlled by “Islamists.”
“Champion of the Red Wall”
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Tice also welcomed Lee Anderson to Reform UK, hailing him as the Party’s “Champion of the Red Wall” referencing Labour’s stronghold in the North of the country.
Electoral Prospects
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Although Barker isn’t the bookies favourite frontrunner in the upcoming mayoral contest on May 2, his defection adds to the current mass exodus of Tory MPs.
Tory Mass Exodus
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Over 60 Tory MPs have decided to resign ahead of the general election that’s expected to be announced for the Autumn of 2024.
Polls Show Mass Discontent
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A recent Ipsos poll has shown the extent of the discontent from the public towards the current Conservative government.
Potential Labour Landslide
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According to the poll, only 20% of voters declared their loyalty towards the Conservatives if the general election was held this May, showing a potential landslide victory for Labour.
Theresa May Resigns
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Conservative MPs that have announced resignation include former Prime Minister Theresa May, who resigned after 27 years as an MP.
Immigration Minister Announces Resignation
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Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick announced his resignation after disagreeing with the Prime Minister’s Rwanda bill proposal, arguing that it doesn’t go far enough.
Lack of Defence Spending Causes Uproar
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Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has also resigned from his position after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget showed a lack of defence spending.
Reform UK’s Momentum
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A recent poll showed Reform UK is just four points behind the Conservatives, with increasing momentum.
Health Minister’s Response
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Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom insisted that there is not a divide within the Tory Party, claiming that just a minority of MPs are speaking out against him.
“One or Two” Troublemakers
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Leadsom insisted “There are one or two people who are trying to cause that division but what the Government is doing is trying to get on with the programme.”
A Vote for Reform Is Supporting Labour
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With Reform UK growing in the polls, the Tories are vulnerable as any vote for Reform UK means a Labour government is ever more likely.
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The post Reform UK Welcomes Latest Conservative Defect as Sunak Denies Tory Divide first appeared on Edge Media.
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