UK politics live: Lib Dem councillor among latest defections to Reform UK, Farage reveals

Mike Amesbury has said that he is “devastated” to stand down as an MP today, telling GB News that “as from today I will no longer be the Member ofParliament for Runcorn and Helsby after nearly eight years as being an MP”.

The former Labour MP said last week he would quit the Commons after he was given a 10-week prison term for punching a constituent which was reduced to a suspended sentence following an appeal.

He said he was “sad” and “devastated”, adding: “Not only for me, but … my staff as well, because, course, it goes beyond me, for my family. This is a result of something that I did on October 26.”

Asked about the incident, Amesbury said “I should have walked away” and “I don’t recognise myself”, adding: “But it is me, and it’s very important that I’ve owned that through the legal process … a plea of guilty”

He continued: “I’ve paid a price, I’ve been punished and rightfully so, and I hope that I learn from this.”

Apologising to the constituent he punched, he said: “I’m so sincerely sorry to Mr Fellows, his family, my own family”, and described reliving the moment as “like a living nightmare”.

It is an unlikely transition, from Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, but Reg Kain made the jump last week and was given a hero’s welcome at the party’s press conference on Monday.

At the time of his defection, he told the BBC that Reform was “the only mainstream party at this time that is genuinely listening to the concerns and needs of the British people”.

“I intend to be a moderate and constructive voice within Reform, helping to shape a party that truly represents the interests of ordinary people,” he added.

He was elected to Cheshire East Council in May 2023 and became the council’s first Reform UK member when he defected.

Nigel Farage has denied having “politically assassinated his enemies”, after MP Rupert Lowe was suspended over bullying allegations just days after he described the Reform UK leader as “messianic”.

Asked whether he was somebody who did this, Mr Farage said: “No. They normally do it to themselves.”

Mr Farage added that he had been “appalled” by some of the comments made about party chair Zia Yusuf.

He said “racism” and “abuse” had been taking place online and claimed that, if it had been directed towards any senior member of the Tories or Labour, then it would be a “major national story”.

Mr Farage was also asked about suggestions that billionaire X owner Elon Musk could be open to donating to another political party.

He replied: “Great, thank you.”

Nigel Farage has for decades been one of the UK’s best politicians when it comes to dealing with the media.

But a different side of the Reform UK leader was on show when he was asked about Rupert Lowe after his press conference on Monday.

Mr Farage was tetchy, snappy and at one point attempted to scarper off amid questions about his former MP.

He insisted discontent among Reform members was contained to the fringes of the party, and refused to mention Mr Lowe by name. He even repeatedly said “I’m bored” of being asked about the bitter spat which rocked the party this month.

Elsewhere in his post-conference huddle with journalists, he gave snappy one-word answers and even challenged a journalist to prove they had written an article they claimed to have.

It was a far cry from the charming Brexiteer who has long known how to put his best foot forwards when the cameras are rolling.

Andy Burnham has urged “caution on how changes are made” to the benefits system, after an outcry from some Labour MPs over the planned reforms.

Writing in The Times, the Greater Manchester mayor said that Sir Keir Starmer is “right” and “the British state is not sustainable in its current form” but said the government should focus on helping people into work rather than simply cutting benefits.

He said: “I would share concerns about changing support and eligibility to benefits while leaving the top-down system broadly in place. It would trap too many people in poverty.

“And to be clear: there is no case in any scenario for cutting the support available to disabled people who are unable to work.”

There is a moral and economic case to overhaul the benefits system, Downing Street said, denying the plans were purely because of the UK Government’s difficult fiscal situation.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “I think the Prime Minister has been clear there is both a moral and an economic case for fixing our broken social security system that’s holding our people back, and our country back.

“Three million people are out of work for health reasons, and one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training.

“So we’ve got a duty to fix the system, to ensure that that safety net is always there for the most vulnerable and severely disabled, but also supports back into work, rather than leaving people written off.”

Asked if the reforms were being carried out because of the UK’s fiscal backdrop, the spokesman replied: “No, I think when you look at the fact that we have the highest level of working-age inactivity due to ill health in western Europe, we’re the only major economy whose employment rate hasn’t recovered since the pandemic, there is a duty to fix the broken system that is letting millions of people in this country down.

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is expected to set out plans for welfare reform on Tuesday in an effort to get more people back to work and cut the cost of a benefits bill.

However, there has been an outcry from some Labour MPs over the reforms.

Strong Conservative shift

Nearly half of the defections (13 out of 29) were former Conservative councillors. 10 were previously independent, and perhaps most surprisingly, one Liberal Democrat.

It is well known that Reform UK’s strategy centres around appealing to disillusioned Tory voters.

There are notably multiple councillors from Kent, Powys, and South Holland, suggesting potential strongholds or areas where dissatisfaction with mainstream parties is high.

Nigel Farage has unveiled 29 councillors who have defected from parties including the Conservatives, independents and even a Liberal Democrat to Reform UK.

After the announcement, Mr Farage said: “We are growing, we are building we are deepening we are broadening we are strengthening, we are getting ready for the first of May.”

Nigel Farage is never one to beat around the bush, but he just explained his way around the Rupert Lowe row with a heavy dose of spin.

The Reform leader said there had been “turbulence” in the party, but that any discontent was around the edges.

It comes despite polling showing a drop in support for Mr Farage as leader in recent weeks amid the row.

He said: “But I can promise you that in terms of our progress and our planning, that upset is very much at the edges.”