𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Reform MP Lee Anderson has issued Labour with a stark warning after being promoted to party chairman. The 59-year-old, who was the party’s first MP after joining when he was kicked out of the Conservative Party, takes over from David Bull.

The Ashfield MP hailed his party’s recent local election results, in which it gained more than 1,600 seats, and plunged Labour into a full-blown leadership crisis. Speaking to the Daily Express, he said: “Today is a proud moment for me, I’m delighted to be the chairman of Reform UK and to take on this role at such an important moment for our country. Reform UK is giving a voice to millions of hardworking people who feel ignored by the political establishment, and I look forward to working alongside Nigel Farage and our dedicated team.”

He pledged to “continue fighting for common-sense policies, secure borders, lower taxes and a government that puts the British people first”.

But in a warning shot to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he said he would also “do everything I can to make sure we carry our stunning performance in the recent May elections into the next general election” and threatened to “smash Labour’s Red Wall to smithereens”.

He added: “I want to thank the people of Ashfield, the capital of common sense, who’ve made this possible.”

Reform is currently gearing up for a totemic by-election, triggered by the resignation of Makerfield MP Josh Simons, in which it is set to go toe-to-toe with the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

Mr Burnham, a popular figure on the Left of the Labour Party, is expected to stand for the seat ahead of a bid to become prime minister.