Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, is poised to hold an emergency press conference in London, which will be livestreamed on social media. This announcement, scheduled for Monday morning, comes amid growing speculation regarding the potential defection of former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson to Reform UK. Anderson’s expulsion from the Conservative Party last month has intensified rumours about him joining Reform UK, potentially becoming the party’s first sitting MP.

Reform UK has been gaining momentum in the polls, with recent figures showing the party just five points behind the Conservatives and achieving its highest support level at 14 percent. This surge in popularity has been accompanied by heightened media focus on possible Conservative MP defections and the role of Nigel Farage in the upcoming General Election. Farage, now serving as the party’s honorary president, had previously led Reform UK and has ruled out a return to the Conservative Party.

Tice has been vocal about his ambitions for Reform UK, aiming to prevent the Conservatives from forming a majority government again and criticizing Labour’s economic policies and stance on migration. With the party planning to contest every constituency in the General Election—a change from its 2019 strategy where it stood down in some areas to support Boris Johnson—its growing strength poses a notable challenge to traditional party dynamics in the UK.

This development points to a potential shift in the country’s political landscape, especially with Farage’s involvement as an active campaigner, despite not standing as a candidate, and the party’s critique of recent economic strategies outlined by the Conservatives. The forthcoming press conference by Tice is expected to provide further clarity on Reform UK’s electoral strategy and the possible inclusion of high-profile political figures like Lee Anderson.