Reform UK seized 16 of 19 seats in Halton, Cheshire, in the early hours of Friday’s local election count, as Reform spokesman Nadhim Zahawi clashed with Labour’s Baroness Hazarika live on Sky News amid mounting speculation over Sir Keir Starmer’s future
Reform spokesperson Nadhim Zahawi dramatically locked horns with Labour’s Baroness Ayesha Hazarika during a live broadcast on Sky News in the early hours, casting a grim shadow over Sir Keir’s chances of remaining in his position by daybreak.
“It is going to be complete chaos in Downing Street tomorrow,” Zahawi predicted. “The U-turns have not helped. It’s made MPs not trust his judgement. Then the Mandelson Affair is the gift that keeps on giving. There’s going to be weeks of this. There’s going to be one hundred thousand documents that are going to be released.
“The court case, the investigation, it’s going to keep coming back to haunt him, which is why I think you’re going to have to let him go.”
Hazarika swiftly interjected, admonishing Zahawi: “You cannot say ‘it’s a gift’ because that’s a very horrific thing involving grooming.'” She then tried to redirect the conversation towards how Sir Keir should “own it” regarding the party shifting left to capture votes that might otherwise go to the Greens.
Reform UK is making significant inroads into Labour’s Red Wall in the early stages of Friday’s local election count, with the party already snatching 15 council seats from Sir Keir Starmer in Halton, Cheshire – as rampant speculation grows concerning the Prime Minister’s future.
Richard Tice announced that the Red Wall was being “repainted” as Reform made significant inroads into traditional Labour strongholds. Speaking to Sky News, he said: “What we are witnessing is the Red Wall of the Midlands and the North is being repainted a much brighter, more optimistic turquoise wall. That will be the big news of the next 18 to 24 hours.
“You’ve just been talking about the incredible results, 16 out of 19 have gone to Reform in Halton. The collapse in the Labour vote is absolutely seismic.”
Reform MP Lee Anderson forecasted that the party would secure at least 1,500 seats nationally, sharing on social media: “My prediction is about 1,500 seats, maybe more than that, but that’s my conservative prediction.”
A source from Reform stated: “We’re seeing a direct swap from Labour to Reform. The Red Wall is crumbling one brick at a time. This could be a devastating night for Starmer.”
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