Did Richard Tice tease a return to politics for Nigel Farage?

Reform UK is the great enigma of right-wing British politics. Despite lacking a memorable name, leader, policy platform or record of electoral success, the party is polling just shy of 10 per cent – two points off the Liberal Democrats. The party held an eagerly awaited press conference this morning at which Richard Tice set out his plans for the forthcoming general election.

All the familiar hallmarks of the Ukip and Brexit party playbook were present: talk of defections, disgruntled donors and plans to ‘punish’ the Tories, set in the familiar haunt of the Hilton Hotel in Westminster. Unlike 2019, Tice pledged, there would be no pacts with Conservative MPs, even the true-blue Brexiteers: ‘You’ve all broken Britain. You’re all responsible. So there’s no special deals: we stand in every single seat in England, Scotland, and Wales.’

To the disappointment of the 50-plus assembled journalists, Nigel Farage did not make a surprise appearance to announce his return to frontline politics.