Reform UK's head of policy Zia Yusuf has categorically rejected any possibility of Boris Johnson joining his party. He branded the former Conservative leader "one of the worst prime ministers in British history" and accused him of betraying Brexit voters.
"We certainly would not welcome Boris Johnson - that's never going to happen," Yusuf told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips. He specifically criticised what Reform UK terms the "Boris wave" - the surge in legal immigration following post-Brexit visa policies introduced under Johnson from January 2021.
Yusuf said Johnson "threw open our borders" and that millions of non-EU migrants "flooding into the country post-Brexit, betrayed every single person that voted Brexit". He described Johnson as "frankly one of the worst Prime Ministers in British history".
Farage takes softer stance
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage adopted a more measured tone when asked about potentially recruiting Johnson. "Oh I don't think that would really work, somehow," he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, whilst acknowledging his personal regard for the former prime minister.
"I like him personally, I always have done, he's a very entertaining bloke," Farage said. However, he maintained criticism of the immigration policies, noting that millions were "allowed into Britain, most of whom, by the way, don't even work, and are costing us a fortune".
Experience gap acknowledgement
Farage openly admitted his party's "biggest weakness" is lack of "experience at government level". He highlighted former Conservative MP Nadine Dorries' recent joining as addressing this shortfall.
"That is our biggest weakness," Farage said, explaining that when asked how Reform would implement policies, "I can't really give you an answer, because I haven't got anybody in the senior team that's ever been there before". He described Dorries as "the first, and there will be others".
Political opposition responds
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley seized on Farage's admission of inexperience. "Nigel Farage has no plan for Britain. Now he's admitted he doesn't have confidence that his team is capable of delivering a plan if he did have one," she said.
"Putting yourself forwards for high office while admitting your team aren't fit to govern isn't patriotism, it's egotism," Turley added, concluding that "Britain deserves better".
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake dismissed any prospect of alliance with Reform UK as "not going to happen". He criticised Reform's economic proposals, highlighting their "£140 billion-a-year black hole" in spending commitments.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that Farage "will only make it worse" for the economy, noting his desire to "increase benefits". She positioned the Conservatives as "the only party talking about living within our means".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
