Rishi Sunak hit by contemporary common election blow as main change confirmed

Rishi Sunak faces a common election nightmare as Reform UK has warned it would stand towards Tory MPs for the primary time.

The celebration’s chief Richard Tice has given “cast iron guarantees” to his senior staff that its candidates is not going to be informed to step apart. The resolution dangers making it even tougher for Conservative MPs to cling onto key battleground seats.

Reform UK fought the 2019 common election because the Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, earlier than altering its identify after the nation left the EU. In the run as much as polling day, Mr Farage introduced he would withdraw his candidates within the 317 seats the Conservatives had received on the earlier election.

It had been thought that Mr Sunak might try to influence Mr Tice to do the identical once more in a bid to cease Keir Starmer turning into PM. But the Sunday Times reported that the Reform UK chief has given “concrete” assurances to key figures together with Ann Widdecombe that there is not going to be a repeat of 2019.

Mr Tice informed the newspaper: “We will be ready whenever it comes, spring, summer or autumn. We will be standing in seats everywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. Many, including Tory MPs and commentators, still don’t believe us, but I have news for them: you are seriously underestimating our intent to have a massive impact.”

Ms Widdecombe added: “The situation is completely different now. In 2019 if we had not stood down Labour could have won and there was a real chance that Brexit could have been overturned. This time Brexit has been done, at least legally.”

The Conservatives presently path Labour by round 20 factors in opinion polls. Support for Reform UK stands at about 9%. The celebration is unlikely to win any seats, however it might take votes away from the Tories. In marginal constituencies this could possibly be sufficient to stop them from successful.

Mr Farage stepped down as celebration chief and have become Reform UK’s honorary president following the final election. It has been rumoured that he might make a return to frontline politics after his stint on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity.