Reform UK leader Richard Tice held a press conference on Wednesday that was widely seen as disappointing, featuring 'special guests' who spoke about the need to clean up Britain's litter. The event came 50 days after the party's last press conference, with Nigel Farage notably absent.
Tice's Trademark Disappointment
John Crace, a political sketch writer, described Tice as the 'kiss of death for almost any occasion' and a 'beta male' who exists only as a satellite of Farage. The press conference backdrop read 'Cleaning Up Britain', but the reality was more prosaic. Tice announced a day of litter picking on 4 July and promised to increase penalties for fly-tipping.
The special guests were not particularly special. First, John Read, head of the Clean Up Britain campaign, spoke for 10 minutes about his desire to clean up Britain. Second, George Finch, the 14-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire county council, said his boy scout group wanted to clean up Britain.
Media Questions and Tice's Responses
The media asked more pointed questions. One journalist noted that Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick were in office when a Sudanese man accused of a Belfast attack was granted asylum. Tice blamed the Tory government, claiming Braverman and Jenrick were not 'Tories at heart'. Another journalist asked if Farage's call for 'pure, cold rage' had sparked riots in Southampton and Belfast. Tice called the accusation 'revolting' and refused to answer, insisting 'pure, cold rage' meant 'pure, cold calm'.
Tice was also baffled by questions about why Farage had become publicity-shy, denying that Farage was hiding anything related to his £5m donation from Thai crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Tice claimed Farage was giving others a chance to showcase their talent, but Crace noted that Farage is the only talent in the party.
Prime Minister's Questions
Later, during prime minister's questions, Tice condemned all violence, but MPs expressed disbelief. Keir Starmer called out Tice for stirring up fear and division, and suggested Tice might pay some of the tax he had avoided on policing borders. Tice looked beaten, and Crace concluded that these had not been Tice's finest hours.
