Richard Tice dealt Labour a humiliating blow on live television, declaring that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not serious about governing. The Reform UK MP's comments came in response to the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey.
Appearing on GB News on Friday, Tice did not hold back, slamming Starmer and his government for prioritising the welfare system over Britain's national security. Speaking with presenters Anne Diamond and Stephen Dixon, Tice stated: "This government has chosen benefits over bullets, welfare over warfare." He added that Reform UK would properly fund the armed forces and protect them both during service and after leaving, including repealing any new legacy act that threatens veterans' security.
Defence Prioritisation Under Fire
During the interview, Dixon pointed out that recent developments in Iran made defence feel more vital than ever. He questioned Tice about Nigel Farage serving as both party leader and defence spokesperson, suggesting Reform needed someone solely focused on defence. Tice responded that "there's no one more serious than Nigel and Reform about defence," noting that during the general election, they were the only party requiring Britain to reach 3% of GDP on defence within six years.
Tice delivered another blow to Starmer, saying: "You cannot claim that this government, this Prime Minister is serious about governing when you've got ministers resigning, saying it is not a serious country and not prepared to fund itself properly to keep its own citizens safe and its own armed forces personnel safe when they're on operations."
The Labour Party is now in crisis mode following Healey's resignation, with Tice's remarks highlighting growing concerns over national security priorities.
