During his speech at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, King Charles highlighted the many complex threats facing both countries, which come from various directions. He emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges together as allies and friends, noting that these issues transcend borders and cannot be avoided by isolation. He also addressed the issue of “irregular migration across the English Channel.”
The Reform MP criticized the “Establishment” for not inviting party leader Nigel Farage or himself to the state banquet, which included the attendance of the Prince and Princess of Wales and celebrities like Mick Jagger and Elton John. Tice insisted that they deserved to be there, saying, “We are a serious part of the political debate and that just can’t be denied,” given their party’s leading position in national polls.
This statement came during a week when the party celebrated the defection of former Conservative chairman Jake Berry to Reform UK, marking another significant departure.
Tice speculated in an interview that the monarch might not have reviewed the speech prior to delivering it. Following Berry’s defection, Tice commented that more Tory parliamentarians might recognize the trend and that many Tory members are essentially closet Liberal Democrats, suggesting they are not true Conservatives. He asserted, “We’re not Tory Mark Two, we never will be.”
Tice also confirmed that his party will not consider an electoral alliance with the struggling Conservatives, stating firmly, “No deal,” questioning the logic of aligning with a party he sees as failing.
Tice had stepped down as Reform UK leader the previous year to allow Farage’s re-entry into frontline politics, marking a pivotal moment in the U.K. general election campaign.
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