Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice launched a furious attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, demanding his resignation. Tice, speaking during the midday Commons session, criticised Starmer over a series of issues including the small boats crisis, the Mandelson scandal, and alleged two-tier policing.
Tice said: 'We all condemn the appalling violence in Belfast last night after the horrific attack on Monday. But this Prime Minister is in denial of the rising despair across the country over his failure to stop the boats and related criminality. His failure to recognise two-tier policing, his failures over Mandelson, his failures over the scourge of antisemitism. He's lost the confidence of the country, his own trade union members and his own very quiet backbenchers. When will he do the right thing, and when will this Prime Minister resign?'
In response, Sir Keir hit back, accusing Reform of trying to 'whip up fear and division'. The Prime Minister said: 'Last week we had the terrible case of Henry Nowak, which they sought to exploit. Now we have a very difficult situation in Northern Ireland when families and communities are extremely frightened. What do they do? They try to whip up fear and division because that's all they've got.'
Starmer also challenged Tice on his tax affairs, stating: 'He talks about stopping the boats. When we passed legislation to help stop the boats, what did they do? They voted against it. And to take those measures, you need money. He is still not properly addressed why his companies did not just aggressively avoid tax, but failed to pay the tax they legally owed. His investment company then gave huge donations to Reform. If he paid his tax, there would be more money to deal with these issues.'
