Nigel Farage ‘assessing’ return to politics amid warning Reform UK could pick off Tories – live

The longest strike in NHS history “couldn’t come at a worse time”, experts said as they warned that elderly patients could put off seeking medical help due to the walkouts.

Hospital bosses said the health service is “in the grip of peak winter pressure” as junior doctors in England take to picket lines for six days.

NHS Providers said the “unprecedented” action will lead to delays in care for thousands of patients.

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson has claimed that Reform is a “bigger threat to the country” than Labour as he suggested his own seat was among those at risk from the party.

But the MP for Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire, said that Mr Farage was doing “fantastic things” and had to stand in the next election and become party leader for Reform to make inroads.

Mr Tice said: “Lee is very worried, he’s terrified that we’re going to basically put him out of the job.

“The honest truth is, there are quite a number of Tory MPs in a similar position – stop staying with the toxic Tories, stop defending the indefensible, be brave, be bold, come on over.”

Reform UK has ruled out entering into any electoral pacts with the “terrified” Tories as Rishi Sunak came under fresh pressure from his political opponents to call a general election.

Richard Tice, the leader of the Nigel Farage-linked party, said he could be “absolutely categoric” there will be no deals despite the alleged pleading of some Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, demanded that the Prime Minister should launch a general election for May rather than “clinging on to power”.

Holding a press conference near Parliament, Mr Tice said the country wants to go to the polls “sooner rather than later” as voters want to “punish the Tories for breaking Britain”.

“The truth is the Tories are terrified,” he told an audience gathered at a plush hotel on Wednesday.

“Yes, in the new year the special pleading has already started: ‘Oh, please don’t stand here, please don’t stand there, I’m one of the nice guys, I believe in everything that you believe in.”’

The Scottish government’s budget contains no money for public service reform, local council leaders have complained.They also hit out at increases in the government’s “internal costs” while their own budgets are disproportionately affected by cuts to capital funding.

Cosla, (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) has been voicing its unhappiness with the budget following a meeting of council leaders in December. Deputy first minister Shona Robison’s budget offered £144 million to local authorities as compensation for freezing council tax.

However, Cosla said this would not fully fund the freeze, warning services would be at “breaking point” with “cuts in every community”.In a statement on Wednesday, Cosla said: “The budget as it stands leaves not a single penny for transformational public service reform – there is very limited scope for a focus on spend to save.

“The 2024-25 budget shows a clear difference between the treatment of local government and other public bodies, with local government disproportionately impacted by cuts to capital funding.”

“Stop the boasts” is a good soundbite on immigration, but what would Labour actually do?

Would Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper really be any better at dealing with asylum applications, asks John Rentoul

Read John’s full piece here:

The Reform UK leader, 59, held a news conference on Wednesday 3 January, where he lashed out at both Rishi Sunak and the Labour leader.

“We are facing a catastrophic cocktail of economic incompetence and cultural pillage that will be a disaster for the United Kingdom,” Mr Tice said on a potential Labour government.

The party leader doubled down on his criticism, adding: “In every Labour Government, in every socialist way, they want more taxes, they want more of your money.

Watch the clip here:

Cuts to national insurance or income tax are being considered by Labour as part of the party’s offer at the general election.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, wants to show voters that Labour is on the side of “opportunity and aspiration”.

She is facing pressure from frontbenchers to make a “retail” offer on tax to voters who are struggling with the cost of living crisis, The Times reports.

Richard Tice has wrapped up Reform UK’s press conference, after criticising Labour and the Tories.

The party’s leader doubled down on his pledge to fight in every seat in the UK at the next election and warned against what he described as “Starmageddon” – claiming Labour’s plans for the country would bankrupt the country.

He accused Rishi Sunak of failing on four out of his five pledges and urged the prime minister to call an election sooner rather than later.

Despite rumours before the press conference, Nigel Farage did not make an appearance at the event although Mr Tice said he was “very confident” the party’s founder would have a role to play in the election campaign.

Richard Tice has said “categorically” that the party will not do any deals with the Conservatives ahead of the next general election, Archie Mitchell reports.

In 2019 Reform UK, then the Brexit Party, stood hundreds of candidates down to help the Tories win a majority.

But Mr Tice told a press conference in London: “I can be absolutely categoric that we are not doing any deals with the Tories. We will stand everywhere in England, Scotland, Wales, absolutely under any circumstances.”