Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice has faced a strong challenge from Sky’s Sophy Ridge over the criminal record of one of his party’s MPs.
Tuesday 3 December 2024 19:56, UK
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Finally with Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, we ask about his party colleague James McMurdock.
It’s emerged he was jailed when he was 19 for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend, having not disclosed the conviction before he was elected.
‘Gone full circle’
Mr Tice defends his colleague, saying: “We are a great Christian nation. Are you seriously saying that if someone makes a bad mistake in life, age 19, that there’s no redemption they are doomed as a sinner forever?
“The whole point of Christianity is a sense of – if you’ve done something wrong, you pay your price. And at the end of that sentence, whatever it is, then, in a sense you’ve done your bit, you served your punishment.”
He goes on to say it is “remarkable” that Mr McMurdock has “gone full circle” and done well in life after his punishment.
‘It doesn’t matter’
Pushed on the discrepancy between Mr McMurdock’s initial account of pushing his girlfriend, and the court documents showing he kicked her, Mr Tice says “it actually doesn’t matter”.
“The law ruled that he had transgressed, and he was punished. He served his punishment.”
Pushed again by Sophy Ridge on if the public has the right to transparency before someone is elected as an MP, he replies: “The transparency is we have a right to a difference of opinion, OK?”
He says The Times newspaper, which reported on the conviction, “were not there” and “the court documents were not there” either.
“Can I suggest that actually the individual might be closer to the truth?”
Mr Tice says this is a redemption story that sets a “really positive” example.
Labour have asked parliament’s standards watchdog to investigate Reform UK after both Lee Anderson and Dame Andrea Jenkyns claimed they were offered bribes from the party’s donors to defect from the Tories.
But Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, tells us he has “no idea” if defectors were actually offered money.
“Lots of people say all sorts of stuff, but they don’t speak to for Reform,” he tells us.
“The whole thing is a complete load of nonsense,” he adds.
On tonight’s edition of Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, we are hearing from the deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice.
It comes as Sky News reports on the young men who are ditching the mainstream politics of Labour and the Conservatives for Nigel Farage and Reform UK – much more so than young women (read and watch the full story here).
Mr Tice says these young men are attracted to the “personality”, “conviction”, and “principle” the party has.
“We’ve got a clear view on some stuff, and we tell it as it is, and I think a lot of people, they like that.
“They appreciate the facts, and we’re not waffly and wishy-washy about this stuff – we’ve got a view, whether you like it or not.”
He points to the trans debate (“our view is quite clear – there’s two sexes, two genders, and that’s it”), immigration, net zero, and similar policies that “impact on people’s lives”.
Asked about the gender gap, and the party not doing well among young women, Mr Tice says: “Whatever it is, clearly we’ve got more work to do.”
He adds that the party needs to “keep learning, keep improving”, and they are “of course” investigating how to expand their appeal.
As chaos reigns in the South Korean parliament, democracy is continuing in the UK parliament, with MPs voting on budget measures.
The controversial legislation to raise employers’ national insurance has passed its second reading in the House of Commons, meaning it will move to the next stage in the legislative process.
The result was 332 in favour, and 189 against.
An amendment tabled by the Conservative Party to scrap the rise entirely failed, with 186 in favour and 330 against.
No Labour MPs voted in favour of the amendment, nor against the main bill.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused the government of breaking their manifesto pledge not to raise taxes, adding in a statement: “Despite being presented with the overwhelming evidence that this hike will lead to lower wages, fewer jobs, businesses closing and lower growth, Labour MPs have still forced their Jobs Tax through Parliament.
“But broken promises have consequences. Labour will discover that not only will this tax damage the economy, but they will increasingly lose the trust of the British people.”
The UK has said it’s “deeply concerned” about events in South Korea tonight and the reason is simple.
Our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn describes Seoul as a “very important regional ally” for Britain and other Western powers.
It’s a “very powerful country economically”, boasting companies like electronics giant Samsung, and is viewed around the world as a “real beacon for democratic stability”.
Dominic says it has “a reputation among Asians for being a brash, capitalist, consumerist upstart – a vibrant, dynamic society and culture”.
Its politics is seen equally, he says, while North Korea is the opposite.
“Eccentric, authoritarian conduct by a solitary leader is what you associate with North Korean leaders,” he adds.
The UK will no doubt hope normal service resumes swiftly.
Watch: What is happening in South Korea?
We’ve just had a statement from the government after the president of South Korea declared martial law, triggering chaos.
Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, said the UK is “deeply concerned” about events there.
“Our embassy in Seoul continues to monitor developments and is in touch with the Korean authorities,” she added.
“We call for a peaceful resolution to the situation, in accordance with the law and the constitution of the Republic of Korea.
“British nationals in South Korea should continue to monitor and follow FCDO travel advice.”
Our usual weeknight politics show, Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, is live on Sky News now. There will be some reporting on UK politics, but we will be focusing on the ongoing protests.
You can follow the latest on events in South Korea in our dedicated live blog here:
Our weeknight politics show Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live now on Sky News.
The programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews and analysis – bringing you into the corridors of power.
Tonight’s show will be dominated by events in South Korea, where the president has tried to impose martial law.
You can watch live in the stream at the top of this page or below:
Watch Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the Sky News website and app or on YouTube.
Number 10 has denied reports British troops could be sent to Ukraine if Kyiv and Moscow strike a ceasefire deal.
According to The Telegraph, a top NATO official told Radio Free Europe discussions were ongoing between the UK and France about deploying soldiers who could help enforce an armistice.
French newspaper Le Monde also reported last week that the two countries had started having such talks.
But Number 10 insisted there were “no plans for this”.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer raised the prospect of “negotiations” between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.
The PM said on Monday night it was British policy to put Kyiv in the strongest possible position for any discussions, ahead of growing expectations that Donald Trump will push both sides to seek a compromise agreement when he returns to the White House.
Watch: What Ukraine-Russia truce could look like
Young men are ditching the mainstream politics of Labour and the Conservatives for Nigel Farage and Reform UK, much more so than young women.
Our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh has been speaking to those voices to unpack what’s fuelling this gendered political divide and why mainstream parties are struggling to connect.
Niall Paterson is joined by Serena and producer Isobel Losseff, and Dr Jilly Kay, a senior lecturer in communications and media at Loughborough University, to discuss the rising influence of TikTok and the so-called “bro vote”, exploring why Gen Z men are rallying behind divisive figures like Farage.
Reform was quick to engage with a younger audience on TikTok – racking up more than 300,000 followers, more than any other major party.
But is it enough to capture the “bro vote”?
Our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh and politics producer Isobel Losseff report on how Nigel Farage’s party is finding an increasing number of young supporters.
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