All posts tagged: Richard Tice

Richard Tice furiously demands Keir Starmer resigns at PMQs | Politics | News

Richard Tice furiously demands Keir Starmer resigns at PMQs | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Richard Tice called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign in a furious attack at PMQs.The Reform UK deputy leader ripped into the Prime Minister over a series of issues, including the small boats crisis and the Mandelson scandal, during a midday Commons session. But Sir Keir hit back, accusing Reform of trying to “whip up fear and division”. Mr Tice said: “We all condemn, of course, the appalling violence in Belfast last night after the horrific attack on Monday. “But this Prime Minister is in denial of the rising despair across the country over his failure to stop the boats and related criminality. “His failure to recognise two-tier policing, his failures over Mandelson, his failures over the scourge of antisemitism. “He’s lost the confidence of the country, his own trade union members and his own very quiet backbenchers. “When will he do the right thing, and when will this Prime Minister resign?” The Prime Minister replied: “Last week we had the terrible case of Henry Nowak, which they sought to exploit. “Now we have a …

Farage can’t block Labour’s mega solar farms, Reform energy chief admits – POLITICO

Farage can’t block Labour’s mega solar farms, Reform energy chief admits – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“There remains growing concern about a potential gap between public statements and deliverable policy, particularly in relation to claims that developments might be ‘stopped,’ ‘delayed,’ or ‘quashed,’” campaigners told Tice in the letter. Reform constituencies are a key battleground for large-scale solar development. Jenrick is the MP for Newark, where two massive solar farms — One Earth and Great North Road — are proposed. Both await a decision from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.   For now, the party is “using every lever available” to block developments, including legal challenges, Tice said.   This includes Reform-run local authorities Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council, which have committed up to £500,000 in public funds to finance a potential judicial review against another development, Springwell Solar Farm. That project was approved by Miliband in April.   Tice argued there are “excellent grounds” for a challenge, but the numbers are not on the party’s side.   There have been 230 appeals against solar schemes by English councils since 2011, according to data provided by lobby group Solar Energy UK. Most — 125 — found in favor of developers. And since 2024, out of 27 challenges, all but …

Tice Under Fire For Failing To Condemn Racist Comments

Tice Under Fire For Failing To Condemn Racist Comments

Published by Sam Flores

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice is facing a mounting backlash after he failed to condemn one of the party’s new councillors who said Nigerans should be melted down to fill potholes”. Tice was asked repeatedly in a series of interviews to disown the remarks by Glenn Gibbins, who was elected in the Hylton Castle ward in Sunderland in Thursday council elections. In a post on social media in 2024, he said: “Can’t believe amount of Nigerians in town … should melt them all down and fill in the potholes.” Reform has launched an investigation into Gibbins, but Tice dismissed the criticism of him as “smearing and sneering”. On the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Tice said: “I’m going later to a campaign against the scourge of anti-semitism, which is the greatest threat facing us, particularly in London but elsewhere across the UK. That’s what people are really concerned about. If people have said daft things, of course it’ll be looked at.” Pressed on Gibbins’ remarks, he said: “Laura, this weekend we are celebrating …

Richard Tice Avoids Condemning Racist Comments

Richard Tice Avoids Condemning Racist Comments

Published by Sam Flores

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has refused to condemn one of his party’s new councillors who said Nigerians should be melted down to fill potholes. Glenn Gibbins, who was elected in the Hylton Castle ward in Sunderland on Thursday, made the remarks on social media in 2024. He was one of 1,500 new Reform councillors elected as Labour’s vote collapsed in its traditional heartlands. On the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Tice repeatedly refused to condemn the remarks, and accused Reform’s critics of “smearing and sneering”. Attempting to deflect from the row, he added: “I’m going later to a campaign against the scourge of anti-semitism, which is the greatest threat facing us, particularly in London but elsewhere across the UK. That’s what people are really concerned about. If people have said daft things, of course it’ll be looked at.” Kuenssberg told him: “One of your new Sunderland councillors, so a man who was elected to represent Reform, suggested melting Nigerians to fill potholes. Is that person who has expressed those views someone you …

Reform’s Richard Tice lashes out at ‘unhinged’ protester: ‘Totally abhorrent!’ | Politics | News

Reform’s Richard Tice lashes out at ‘unhinged’ protester: ‘Totally abhorrent!’ | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

As Mr Tice talked about the deeply troubling problem of antisemitism in the UK and how it should be tackled, the demonstrator held up a placard saying: “Voting Reform? They think you’re stupid.” He then turned the placard round to reveal another slogan: “You need the NHS, Reform would sell it.” But the stunt instantly backfired, with outraged viewers taking to social media to slam the protester’s terrible timing. One person wrote on social media site X: “Imagine being so shameless. Richard Tice speaking to GB News about the fact that two Jews have just been stabbed in Golders Green in yet ANOTHER antisemitic attack in Britain. And this man thinks it’s an appropriate time to do this. “I’m sure he would have been able to hear what was being discussed and chose to do it anyway. Disgusting.” Mr Tice replied to the post by saying the “vile man” was “unhinged”. He added: “Totally abhorrent. I gave him a piece of my mind after the interview.” Police wrestled the suspected terror attacker in Golders Green …

Farage Wrongly Says Simon Dudley Was Only Reform Housing Contact For Two Weeks

Farage Wrongly Says Simon Dudley Was Only Reform Housing Contact For Two Weeks

Published by Sam Flores

Nigel Farage has wrongly claimed that a senior Reform UK official sacked for offensive comments about the Grenfell tragedy was only in his post for two weeks. Simon Dudley was dumped by Farage as the party’s housing spokesman following a furious backlash to his remarks. A major overhaul of building regulations took place after 72 people were killed in Grenfell Tower in west London in 2017. But in an interview with trade publication Inside Housing, Dudley said the pendulum had “swung too far the wrong way”. He said the Grenfell fire was a “tragedy” but added: “Sadly, you know, everyone dies in the end. It’s just how you go, right?” Farage announced his sacking during a press conference on Thursday. He said: “He’s no longer a spokesman for the party. That has been dealt with.” In a bad-tempered interview afterwards with Sky News, Farage said: “He was appointed two weeks ago, he’s made these comments, he’s no longer there.” But Reform actually announced Dudley had been handed the role on March 10. In a press …

Tice Accused Of Avoiding Almost £600k In Tax

Tice Accused Of Avoiding Almost £600k In Tax

Published by Sam Flores

Richard Tice has been accused of being “in it for himself” after reports claim he avoided nearly £600,000 in corporation tax. The deputy leader of Reform UK allegedly channelled dividends from his property company into other structures, like an offshore trust and a set of dormant businesses, between 2018 and 2021. Allegedly, his firm Quidnet Reit Ltd – with net assets worth £33 million – paid nothing in corporation tax on its multimillion-pounds profits during that period. Tice listed his company on the Guernsey stock exchange and applied for it become a real estate investment trust (Reit), a corporate structure with rules administered by HMRC. There are approximately 170 firms with Reit status. They do not pay corporation tax, and instead issue dividends to shareholders, who are then taxed individually. A legal quirk meant Quidnet did not pay tax for a three-year grace period, even though it did not qualify to be a Reit company. According to The Sunday Times, Tice was still personally liable to pay tax on the dividends, but his company’s ownership …

Reform UK Accused Of Declaring War On Workers

Reform UK Accused Of Declaring War On Workers

Published by Sam Flores

Reform UK have been accused of “declaring war on British workers” over plans to scrap new employment rights if they win the next general election. Deputy leader Richard Tice will unveil the policy in a major speech on Tuesday setting out the party’s right-wing approach to growing the economy and tackling the cost of living. Tice, who is Reform’s business, trade and energy spokesman, will promise to bring in a Great Repeal Bill to scrap new employment rights rules introduced by Labour. It would also get rid of the government’s pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and improved rights for renters. Tice will say those policies are “all well intentioned but kill jobs, hinder growth, investment and prosperity”. “This will all help lower inflation and bring down bills for consumers,” he will say. Tice will make his speech just two days before voters go to the polls in the crunch Gorton and Denton by-election, where Reform are in a three-way fight with Labour and the Greens. Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Reform have formally …

Farage deploys Jenrick to calm Britain’s bankers – POLITICO

Farage deploys Jenrick to calm Britain’s bankers – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

It’s an effort to reassure investors and businesses that Reform can be trusted with the British economy. It was only last month that his party leader, Nigel Farage, told the World Economic Forum in Davos he doesn’t like banks, would scrap interest payments lenders receive through the BoE’s quantitative easing program, and refused to rule out appointing his own governor to the central bank. Earlier this year Farage stated that he was giving “serious thought” to scrapping the OBR, which provides independent analysis of government spending plans. In November, Farage and his deputy Richard Tice U-turned on a plan to dish out £90 billion in tax cuts, which was initially pledged in the party’s 2024 election manifesto. Jenrick will vow Wednesday that Reform UK will be focused on “restoring stability” and “eliminating wasteful spending.” Although Jenrick will claim that the BoE would keep its independence under a Farage government, he will add that the Bank would be stripped of “ancillary responsibilities,” such as considering the impact of climate change, and will follow his leader in …