𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Lee Anderson has furiously hit back at Andy Burham for blaming Britain’s economic woes on Brexit. Reform’s chairman said it was “a load of rubbish” to keep pointing the finger at the UK’s departure from the EU after the PM’s attack during his first address to the Commons.

Speaking to the Daily Express at Reform’s conference in Birmingham, Mr Anderson said: “You can’t keep blaming Brexit, 10 years, keep blaming Brexit. That’s the sign of a weak leader, a pathetic, spineless leader. You know we voted for Brexit, accept it, make it work. It’s as simple as that.”

Mr Burnham blamed Brexit – along with Margaret Thatcher and austerity – for decades of sluggish growth and insisted his plans to change the “failed economic model” would kickstart the economy.

Mr Anderson also predicted that Mr Burnham will be “far worse” than his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer and that Labour’s poll bounce will end at next month’s Budget.

Arguing that the new PM has received “no scrutiny” so far, the Ashfield MP added: “I guess when we get the Budget in a month or so and people start to realise what this new Labour government will be like, then that’s when their points will start dropping in the polls again and people will think it’s more of the same.

“In fact he’s going to be worse than the same because I predict it will be far worse than Sir Keir Starmer.”

Mr Anderson slammed Mr Burnham over small boats as figures show the number of crossings has dropped this year.

He said: “The small boat crossings may be down, but those people in northern France who are determined to get here are going to get here.

“Their boats are getting bigger. We’re seeing some of these boats now with 230 people on.”

Mr Anderson insisted under-fire Reform leader Nigel Farage will be the next prime minister despite the latest row over finances engulfing the party, which has overshadowed the conference.

He said: “Look, there’s going to be casualties as we move forward to 2029 or whenever the general election [is], there’s always casualties in a battle.

“But, you know, we keep picking ourselves, we keep marching forward, we’ve got some great people in the team now, some great MPs.”

He declared that Reform is ready for a general election, warning there is “one chance to save our country”.

He added: “The only chance we’ve got is Reform UK and Nigel as Prime Minister. If we don’t win the next election I fear for the future of this country.”

He would not be drawn on who could be a possible successor to Mr Farage, saying: “Nigel’s going to be the next PM. But we’ve got that much talent in Reform UK it could be one of many. And, you know what, when we do win the next general election there’s going to be more MPs so there’s lots of talent in there.”

And he dismissed calls from some on the right of British politics – including Jacob Rees-Mogg – for a deal between the Tories and Reform.

He said: “There’s only one right wing, centre-right party, and that’s Reform UK. The Tories have proved over the past 14 years, and I was part of it, that they’re not a centre-right party.

“They’re just as bad as the Labour Party. People will have a decision to make at the ballot box at the next general election.

“Do you vote for a party that’s going to protect our borders. Do you want to vote for a party that’s going to increase spending and put more police on the beat?

“Do you vote for a party that’s going to increase spending on our armed forces? Do you vote for a party that’s going to make a smaller state?

“Do you vote for a party that’s going to make sure that small businesses can work unhindered in this country? Or do you vote for one of the other two that promise all this and never deliver?”