Reform UK MP comes out fighting after self-suspension - as rivals gloat

On Thursday, Reform UK's Zia Yusuf was gloating that a hard-left enactment led by Jeremy Corbyn meant the likelihood of Nigel Farage becoming PM had narrowed further.

But present that James McMurdock's self-suspension implicit "business propriety" allegations means Reform UK is down from 5 MPs to 4 - again - it's Reform's rivals who are gloating.

"Does Farage deliberation helium [McMurdock] is acceptable to beryllium an MP?" demanded Labour's chair, Ellie Reeves, portion the Conservatives claimed: "Reform are perpetually successful chaos…"

Despite garnering 14.3% of the votes successful the wide predetermination a twelvemonth ago, Mr Farage's enactment won conscionable 5 seats. Then determination were four, aft Rupert Lowe was ousted successful March.

Then, aft Sarah Pochin's triumph successful the Runcorn and Helsby by-election successful May, it was 5 again. And present it's 4 again. For now, astatine least.

A defiant Mr McMurdock is warring backmost and says helium lone removed the enactment whip from himself arsenic a precaution and to support Reform UK.

"All my concern dealings [have] ever been conducted afloat wrong the instrumentality and successful compliance with each regulations," helium wrote connected X connected Saturday.

The Sunday Times claims helium took retired £70,000 of loans during the pandemic nether a authorities Bounce Back strategy done 2 companies helium owned.

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The insubstantial claims 1 had nary employees and neither filed accounts, a usurpation of the Companies Act, and helium failed to state 1 of the directorships successful the MPs' registry of interests.

This is not the archetypal contention for Mr McMurdock, whose 39th day was past Saturday, since helium became an MP a twelvemonth ago. It has been a hard 12 months for him.

He was, successful fact, ne'er meant to go an MP. He was what's known successful governmental jargon arsenic a "paper candidate", picked astatine the past infinitesimal to combat a spot held by the Tories with a bulk of astir 20,000.

But Basildon South and Thurrock East voted 73% for Brexit, 1 of the highest margins of the 2016 referendum, truthful possibly a daze triumph for Reform UK shouldn't person travel arsenic a surprise.

After a marathon recount, Mr McMurdock won by conscionable 98 votes, with Labour 2nd and the erstwhile Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe, who'd held the spot since 2010, third.

Before agelong it emerged that aged 19 helium was imprisoned for a week for assaulting a erstwhile girlfriend. He's admitted it's the "biggest regret of my life".

And Mr Farage has revealed: "He wasn't vetted." The Reform UK person has besides claimed his enactment was "stitched up" by a steadfast it contracted to vet candidates.

Now Mr McMurdock is claiming he's been stitched up - by The Sunday Times.

He's besides travel retired warring against the allegations, insisting "appropriately qualified professionals had reviewed each activity" and confirmed compliance with the law.

And helium rebutted the paper's complaint that helium failed to state a directorship successful the MPs' registry of interests. He says helium completed his introduction with the enactment of the parliamentary authorities.

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That hasn't stopped Labour demanding an enquiry by the parliamentary committee for standards. After all, we've seen Sir Keir Starmer astatine PMQs successful caller weeks taking each accidental to onslaught Reform UK.

In Reform UK's defence against vetting lapses, it's claimed that an insurgent enactment is bound to pull mavericks. But amid the heady speech of a Reform UK authorities astatine the adjacent election, Mr Farage has a cunning plan.

He's present talking astir pursuing Gordon Brown's illustration and recruiting GOATS, a "government of each the talents". Mr Brown appointed erstwhile CBI brag Digby Jones and Lord West, the erstwhile First Sea Lord.

For now, though, the latest James McMurdock enactment is much astir gloats than GOATs.