Reform UK Chairman Richard Tice has set the political arena alight with a stunning accusation against Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party. He claims that despite public assurances, Labour is secretly plotting a "backdoor deal" to rejoin the European Union via a second referendum.
The fiery allegation was launched during a tense interview on Times Radio, placing Brexit and Britain's future relationship with Europe back at the forefront of the election campaign. Tice asserted that the plan would unfold gradually, with a Labour government first seeking a closer trading relationship, which would inevitably lead to the need for a public vote on full reintegration.
Labour's Forceful Rebuttal
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was quick to categorically deny the claims, branding them as "nonsense" from a party with a history of peddling falsehoods. She reiterated Labour's steadfast position: there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or the freedom of movement. A Labour government, she stressed, would focus on "making Brexit work" through pragmatic improvements, not revisiting the 2016 decision.
Conservatives Seize the Moment
In a surprising twist, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch appeared to lend indirect credence to Tice's warning. She took to social media to caution voters that supporting Reform UK could inadvertently pave the way for a Labour government that would "undo Brexit." Her comments highlight the deep concern within Conservative ranks about Reform siphoning off crucial right-wing votes.
This crossfire underscores the immense electoral pressure the Conservatives face from Nigel Farage's insurgent party. The very notion of a second referendum, a political third rail since 2016, is being weaponised from all sides, signalling a brutal battle for the pro-Brexit vote that could ultimately decide the next government.
