11 March 2024 , 17:34
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It was supposed to be his big moment. But as Lee Anderson walked out on stage to be unveiled as Reform UK’s first ever MP, he looked as if he was having second thoughts.
Maybe it was the awkwardness of having to pose for photographs with Richard Tice, his new leader who he described as a “poundshop Nigel Farage” just a few weeks ago. Or perhaps he was remembering his warning that Reform will win “zero seats” at the general election.
“He looks happier than you,” shouted one journalist in the audience as a delighted Mr Tice beamed as Mr Anderson displayed more of a snarl than a smile.
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The people in Westminster who were definitely grinning though were Labour Party campaign chiefs. It exposed yet again the Tory splits and Rishi Sunak's catastrophically bad judgment in giving this man a top job in his party.
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But it may also make the cold, hard maths of winning seats at the election a little bit easier. If Reform snatch even just a few extra votes from the Tories as a result, it will improve Labour’s chances of taking back seats they lost in the so-called Red Wall.
There is one unanswered question though, will he actually stick it out in Reform until the next election? This is a man who quit his job as Conservative Deputy Chairman so he could rebel on the Rwanda bill but then bottled it after he was laughed at by Labour MPs in the Commons voting lobbies. Now the ex-Labour councillor says he’s changing party for the second time under the orders of his parents - even though he is 57.
I wouldn’t put it past three party Lee to change his mind again.