When Reform UK trailed a press conference for a “major announcement”, teased with the pledge “the band reforms”, there was only one thought on Guido’s mind. Well, Nigel Farage was up first, and he roundly rebuffed any speculation on that front – instead recommitting to his role as an honorary president on a purely advisory basis. This left Richard Tice to make his big announcement, that 11 former Brexit Party MEPs, including Ann Widdecombe and Ben Habib, were rejoining Reform UK ahead of the local elections. They’re planning to stand 630 candidates in the next General Election. Watch this space…
Thirty two years after her maiden speech in the House of Commons, Ann Widdecombe has made her debut performance in the European Parliament.
“There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors. Slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies Mr. Verhofstadt against their empires! And that is why Britain is leaving.”
Cracking.
After 55 years of party loyalty to leaders ranging from Heath to Thatcher, after first being elected as a Tory 43 years ago in 1976, the impossible has happened. Ann Widdecombe has left the Conservative Party. She is seen in the tabloids and on reality TV as the definitive Tory.
The mood with the Conservative Party is furiously mutinous. Downing Street this morning is calmly pointing to polls from early April showing the PM regularly beats Corbyn as choice of ‘best PM’ by around 10 points – neglecting to mention “Don’t Know” is the top choice. They also cite a YouGov poll from April 1 showing 68% saying that “If Theresa May were to stand down and someone else were appointed leader it “would probably not help resolve the issue of Brexit”. This was of course before she May invited Corbyn in to determine the terms of Brexit…
The ConservativeHome headline says it all “May breaks the record for most unpopular Conservative minister ever in our Cabinet League Table“. Theresa May has lost the confidence of the men in grey suits who have told her in no uncertain terms it is time to go, the parliamentary party and the national party in the country. The question is how soon she will go?
Anne Widdecombe has quit the Tories for the Brexit Party, something Guido would until now have seen as probable as the ravens leaving the Tower of London. Die-hard Tories intend to vote for the Brexit Party. Theresa May has split the Conservative Party…
