Boris Johnson has declared he agrees with Reform UK’s Richard Tice “absolutely” amid a row over donations to Nigel Farage’s party.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, the former Prime Minister slammed Labour’s “pathetic” attempt to introduce a cap on party donations after Reform received two individual gifts of £36million from billionaire backers.
Over the weekend, cryptocurrency tycoons Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne contributed a combined £72million to Reform.
After the donations, Labour’s Angela Rayner confirmed that a “task and finish” group had been established to assess whether additional legislation was needed to limit such gifts.
The Housing Secretary added that the taskforce would examine how to prevent individuals from being able to “overpower and buy their way into democracy”.
Around 60 Labour MPs have rallied behind an amendment tabled by Stella Creasy that would restrict donations from individuals and companies to £500,000 in the first year, dropping to £100,000 annually thereafter.
“It looks absolutely pathetic,” Mr Johnson exclaimed as he discussed the row with The People’s Channel, fresh from his close shave with the “terrorist” tactics of Vladimir Putin.
“Just because some people want to support one party very generously, Labour kicks up a huge fuss and says they’re going to cap donations”, he added.
The former Prime Minister said he had seen Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice appear on GB News accusing Labour of attempting to “rig the system against a new competitor that is gaining lots of votes”.
“I have to say, I rather agree with him there. Absolutely,” He said.
Mr Johnson argued Labour’s stance was hypocritical, pointing to the party receiving significant donations from trade unions.
He told the People’s Channel: “(Labour) have got huge amounts of money coming in… they’re ‘troughing’ from the trade unions.
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“It is absolutely ridiculous for Labour to try now to cap donations.”
Despite backing Reform over the donations row, the former Prime Minister maintained his support for the Conservatives looking ahead to a future vote.
“The next election is going to be fought on the shape of the British economy, on British society, and on the Government that is most credible”, he said.
“I think it’s the Conservatives, obviously, who have the most credible plan.
“Kemi Badenoch, I think, has the most credible plan for cutting grotesque expansion in welfare spending and spending more on defence. I think that is where the argument is going to be.
“This country is grossly overtaxed at the moment. The economy is very, very sluggish as a result.
“What you need is a government and party in power; I think it’s going to be the Conservatives that offer the best way out of that mess.”
Aiming for Nigel Farage’s party, Mr Johnson said Reform was: “weak on welfare and I think weak on the economy, whereas I think the Conservatives basically have the right ideas.”
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