Nigel Farage rejects former Tory minister Grant Shapps’ potential move to Reform UK
Nigel Farage has stated he would not accept former Tory cabinet minister Grant Shapps if he attempted to join Reform UK following his rejection as a Conservative candidate, reports BritPanorama.
The leader of Reform UK asserted that “Reform wouldn’t take him” should the former defence secretary seek a position within the party.
Shapps has been barred from standing for the Conservatives in the upcoming general election after losing his Welwyn Hatfield seat to Labour by 3,799 votes in 2024.
Farage’s party has recently embraced other Tory defectors, including former cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, amidst ongoing political realignments. In an interview with The Telegraph, Farage noted that several former Conservatives had approached him for private discussions, only to be told, “I’m busy.”
The Conservative and Labour parties have opted not to field candidates in the Clacton by-election triggered by Farage’s announcement, an action that has been characterised by opponents as a “desperate stunt.” Instead, he will face an unprecedented 33 competitors, including notorious candidates like Count Binface and actor Laurence Fox.
Despite this, Farage is adamant the contest for the Essex seat is not a “farce,” emphasising his commitment to submitting himself to a public vote. “And if those voters really think I’m a crook or a bad dude, they can get rid of me,” he responded.
A parliamentary standards inquiry is currently examining whether Farage should have disclosed a £5 million gift from Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne before his tenure as an MP. The investigation has expanded to include whether he failed to declare support from his friend and convicted criminal George Cottrell.
When confronted with the allegations, he remarked, “I’ve certainly been judged guilty already by the liberal establishment,” while also acknowledging, “All right, perhaps I should have filled in a piece of paper. If that’s the worst thing I’ve done in life – not filling in a form – I would say that’s not too bad.” He asserted that his legal counsel had advised that no declaration was necessary.
Farage maintained that he has not broken any laws, evaded taxes, or misused public funds. “I haven’t bought a motorhome. My parliamentary expenses? I’ve barely claimed a penny. I don’t need to. I’ve got outside income,” he stated.
At 62 years old, Farage has expressed concerns about personal security in light of the recent murder of Reform’s immigration and justice spokeswoman, Ann Widdecombe. He noted that his expenses have surged as he implements increased security measures for those close to him. “I’ll be living with increased levels of danger until the day I die,” he remarked to The Telegraph.
This week, an incident on the campaign trail saw a woman collide with another vehicle moments after directing expletives at Farage. The Vauxhall driver shouted insults before running into the back of a BMW waiting at a red light. Farage shared footage of the event on X, quipping, “This lady shouted abuse at me and then crashed her own car. That’s what you might call instant karma!”
Previously, in 2024, Farage was splashed with a banana milkshake from McDonald’s during his campaign announcement in Clacton, illustrating the ongoing tensions surrounding his political endeavours.
