Nigel Farage unveils bombshell Labour defection to Reform UK | Politics | News
Nigel Farage has welcomed two Labor politicians as the latest to leave Reform UK in the latest blow for his party. They are Sir Robin Wales, the former Labor mayor of Newham and former leader of London Newham council, and Clive Furness, the former Labor Newham councilor and cabinet member.
They announced their separation at a press conference in central London on Wednesday. Laila Cunningham, Reform’s London mayoral candidate, described them as “two heavyweight former Labor leaders with decades of experience delivering real results for working people in London”. Sir Robin has been appointed as the party’s London local government director, while Mr Furness will serve as his senior adviser and will be Reform UK’s candidate for mayor of Newham.
Sir Robin and Mr Furness, who had more than a century of Labor membership, left the party over its “blatant disdain for working people”.
In his new role, Sir Robin will advise Reform to UK-controlled councils after the May 7 election if the party manages to take control of local government in the capital.
Sir Robin said: “After decades of fighting for working people in Newham, I have seen Labor abandon its roots.
“Across London, under the leadership of Sadiq Khan and the Labor Party, the capital has seen rising crime, failing services and a party that prioritizes wealthy elites over the working class it was founded to represent.”
Ms Cunningham said: “Unlike Labor, we are building a team full of expertise and experience focused on making London work for Londoners once again.
“May is the first step in removing Labor and Sadiq Khan from our capital, and only Reform has the chance to present this credible alternative.”
Farage said at the event that Britain should give its full support to the US attack on Iran and insisted it was not the same as the US-UK invasion of Iraq in 2003, which led to the ouster of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Mr Farage said: “There are certainly times when we should have said no to the Americans. There have been several times in the last 25 years when we should have said no.”
“Of course, since Saddam Hussein did not pose a direct threat to this country, they had to invent one.
“In the case of Iran, I would argue that since October 7 this country has fundamentally changed as a result of Iran-financed terrorism.
“Frankly, if this operation is going to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, it will be worth it. I very, very believe that.”
“I’m actually incredibly nervous about intervening in foreign wars, I believe that’s true.”
