REFORM REVEAL: Richard Tice Makes Major Reform UK Announcement — and It Could Shake Up Westminster

Richard Tice announced that Reform UK will launch a working group to look at the “broken” special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system at a press conference this morning.

The Reform deputy leader said: “The SEND system is broken in Britain, and Reform are determined to fix it.

“And that’s why I’m announcing today that we are setting up a SEND working group to be chaired by Dame Andrea Jenkins, who has considerable professional and personal experience in this sector.”

THIS LIVE BLOG HAS NOW CLOSEDStarmer’s popularity hits new low

Just 18% of Britons have a favourable opinion of Sir Keir Starmer which is the lowest level since he became Labour leader in 2020, according to new YouGov polling.

The Prime Minister has a net score of minus 54, with 72% viewing him unfavourably.

Tice insists ‘we have to do things better’

Richard Tice said: “We’ve got to be constructive about this, we’ve got to be determined to do things better.

“We’re not going to be silenced on it, we want to embrace it, we want to encourage discussion, we want to enthuse it.

“And I’ll leave you with this important point. Nobody is disabled, people are differently abled, that is the opportunity, that’s what we’re determined to do, we have to do things better.”

Reform launching working group on SEND

Richard Tice announced that Reform UK is launching a working group to look at the SEND system.

The Reform deputy leader said: “The SEND system is broken in Britain, and Reform are determined to fix it.

He said Reform councillors and experts will also join the group, which will produce an interim report in the first quarter of 2026.

(Image: PA)

Tice calls for churches to be used for SEND

Richard Tice said: “Imagine a system where children don’t have to travel in a taxi every day 60 to 90 minutes to a specialist school.

“Imagine having a specialist school in rural areas within two or three villages.

“Imagine, for example, using redundant churches five days a week that are currently used one day a week.

“I’ve literally seen it with my own eyes how successful that can be. A school in the north of England renting a church five days a week.

“Imagine specialist schools for differently abled children using those churches. What a great thing that would be for the Church of England to show real leadership.”

Tice warns SEND system is ‘broken’

Richard Tice warned that the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is “broken”.

The Reform UK deputy leader told the press conference: “At every single level the SEND system is broken and we at Reform are determined to be at the heart of reforming and improving it.

“Not only because it affects the councils that we’re currently running and more councils that we hope to run but much more importantly without proper reform its the children who don’t get the better outcomes and the extra provision they need.”

Reform press conference underway

Richard Tice is now speaking as the Reform UK press conference begins.

More stinging criticism from the Tories over unemployment figures

Former Employment Minister Mims Davies said: £Never have I seen such desolate figures where frankly yet no real action or urgency is being reflected by this DIRE Labour Government at the true state of things by THEIR choices and particularly for our young people and their life chances.

“The local JCP teams are amazing and with direction, drive and focus they can change this around – working directly with business and sectors if they aren’t being squeezed and taxed out.

“Just more reports commissioned and stupid rhetoric while the wider DWP Ministerial team is invisible and outcomes for our next generation wither like seasonal jobs and work opportunities.

“Waiting to act 18 months on for young people is hopeless for them and our country’s future. They are actively destroying jobs and young futures.

“It hurts me to see and our young people need so much better.

“Bring back Kickstart asap, bring in more SWAPs and get a sense of urgency-not more benefits and report waffle.

“Young people are also leaving our shores in droves where they can and they won’t comeback. Why should they under this Labour shower?”

Reform press conference kicks off at 11am

Reform will shortly hold their second press conference in two days. The giant teal backdrop is in position with the words “Britain needs Reform”.

Far from winding down for Christmas, the party wants to portray itself as an agenda-setting outfit which will be ready for Government when the next election comes.

The party is campaigning on subjects far beyond immigration and Europe. A large television screen has the message: “Send Needs Reform.”

Reform knows that special educational needs and disability support is a subject of huge concern to families across the nation. At around 11am, Richard Tice will address these worries directly.

Lib Dems call for employers’ national insurance hike to be reversed

Responding to the latest unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat deputy leader and economy spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “The Government says it’s on the side of working people but it’s workers and jobseekers who are paying the price of their failures.

“For people worried about their job, these figures are the last thing they want to see before Christmas.

“From the jobs tax to the betrayal on business rates, businesses are struggling to stay afloat under the massive tax increases imposed by this Government which are making it more expensive to employ people.

“The Chancellor must take this as a wake up call and reverse the jobs tax before it can do any more damage.”

BBC needs ‘wholesale change’ – Tice

The BBC needs “wholesale change” to tackle bias, according to Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice.

Asked about US president Donald Trump suing the corporation, Mr Tice told GB News: “What I’m supportive of is the fact that President Trump is requesting and requiring much greater recognition within the BBC, just how badly they got things wrong and the wholesale change that needs to take place.

“It’s already resulted in the Director General and the head of news going, but there needs to be a wholesale clear out of the bias in the BBC, whether it’s the bias against President Trump, whether it’s the bias against the Jewish community. There’s so many areas where the BBC has to do much, much better.

“There’s much that’s great about the BBC, but in the news section, they get things consistently wrong, and that’s why wholesale reform is required. That’s why we’ve said that we would reform the funding model for the BBC.

“And look, President Trump is making a serious point. He is, quite rightly, absolutely furious. Is he negotiating from a high level? Well, of course, who knows where it’ll end up, but what is absolutely certain is that wholesale reform of the BBC is required, including its funding model, and we at Reform have made that very plain and clear.”

Badenoch takes aim at Labour over unemployment figures

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch took to X to slam Labour over new figures showing unemployment has gone up.

Unemployment has risen every month under Labour.

Starmer\u2019s high tax, high spend, union-led government is crushing business, destroying jobs and killing growth.

We must cut spending, live within our means and Get Britain Working Again. https://t.co/Znc4Yeth5W

\u2014 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) December 16, 2025

Dale Vince should apologise, Labour minister says

Care minister Stephen Kinnock says Dale Vince should apologise over his comments on the Bondi Beach atrocity.

He said: “It is wrong, of course, to blame the Jewish people collectively for the exact reactions of the Israeli government.

“Many people feel that the action the Israeli government has taken in relation to Gaza has been completely unacceptable and disproportionate, but it’s completely wrong to, in any way imply that the Jewish people collectively should be blamed for that.

“And I think that first tweet that Mr. Vince did could have given that impression. I think he then put out a second tweet clarifying.

“I think he should apologise for that tweet, and then you know, in terms of his support for the Labour Party, let’s see. Let’s ensure that he apologises. And I think we can review the position and take a decision on that basis.”

Was Budget chaos to blame?

Isaac Stell, Investment Manager at Wealth Club said: “The rate of UK unemployment continued to edge up during October, as the confidence sapping budgetary pre-amble took its toll on the UK jobs market.

“With all the noise, speculation and damaging sentiment, it is no surprise that UK businesses put off hiring in October. These figures should come as no surprise to the Chancellor and the Government, businesses need an environment of confidence in order to thrive, it is clear to anyone that this has been lacking in the recent past.

“Despite unemployment ticking up, pay growth came in far higher than expected, good news for those in employment with the Christmas shopping season firmly underway.

“These latest figures coupled with very weak GDP growth last week will give the Bank of England sufficient reason to cut interest rates at its meeting on Thursday.

“This is despite inflation sitting stubbornly at 3.6% as of October. Further rate cuts from there onwards however will become progressively more difficult to justify as the competing forces vie for importance.”

ONS paints a gloomy picture on labour market

Liz McKeown, Director of Economic Statistics, ONS, said: “The overall picture continues to be of a weakening labour market. The number of employees on payroll has fallen again, reflecting subdued hiring activity, while firms told us there were fewer jobs in the latest period.

“This weakness is also reflected in an increase in the unemployment rate, while vacancies remained broadly flat. The fall in payroll numbers and increase in unemployment has been seen particularly among some younger age groups.

“Wage growth slowed further in the private sector, while increasing again in the public sector, reflecting the continued impact of some pay rises being awarded earlier than they were last year.”

Tory frontbencher blasts Labour’s ‘anti-business policies’

Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Unemployment has risen every single month since Labour came to office. And it’s little wonder when they are pursuing a suite of anti-business policies that is sending employers to the wall.

“Rachel Reeves’ jobs tax did damage enough. But now she is sending business rates soaring too – and we know the disastrous Unemployment Bill is following close behind, bringing with it more red tape, more costs for businesses and more union-led strike chaos.

“Labour do not understand business and ordinary people are paying the price for their incompetence. Only the Conservatives will give businesses the environment to grow and create jobs, including by abolishing business rates for thousands of high street firms.”

Conservatives slam Labour’s ‘growth-killing policies’

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately pointed to the hike on employer national insurance contributions and the measures included in the Employment Rights Bill.

She said: “Losing your job is hard at the best of times, but in the run up to Christmas it’s particularly cruel. But thanks to Labour’s growth-killing policies, that’s the sad reality for many people this Christmas.

“Fourteen months in a row of higher unemployment means thousands of families will be struggling through the holiday season and without a steady income heading into the New Year.

“Even Labour’s favourite think tank has blamed the Government’s £26 billion national insurance hike on rising unemployment. And their Unemployment Bill has made it harder than ever for businesses to hire people.

“This all leaves hard-working families to subsidise those left on benefits. What’s worse, the Chancellor’s Benefit Budget has left those same people better off trapped on welfare, instead of reaping the rewards of employment. Only the Conservatives have the team and the plan to unleash businesses, grow the economy and get Britain working again.”

Labour blames Tories for unemployment figures

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said figures showing the unemployment rate at its highest level for nearly five years reflect the “scale of the challenge” Labour inherited.

He said: “There are over 350,000 more people in work this year and the rate of inactivity is at its joint lowest in over five years, but today’s figures underline the scale of the challenge we’ve inherited.

“That is why we are investing £1.5 billion to deliver 50,000 apprenticeships and 350,000 new workplace opportunities for young people – giving them real experience and a foot in the door.

“To go further and tackle the deep-rooted issues of our labour market, Alan Milburn is also leading an investigation into the whole issue of young people inactivity and work.”

Unemployment rate at its highest level for nearly five years

Britain’s unemployment rate rose to its highest level for nearly five years, new official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment increased to 5.1% in the three months to October, up from 5% in the three months to September.

This is the highest since the first quarter of 2021 – but with the pandemic era stripped out, it is the highest since early 2016.

Dale Vince should say sorry over Bondi Beach comments

Green energy tycoon Dale Vince should apologise for suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants antisemitism to be a thing” after the Bondi Beach terror attack, a minister has said.

Stephen Kinnock told Times Radio: “Dale Vince should apologise for that. It is completely wrong to somehow imply that the Jewish people should be blamed collectively for the actions of the Israeli government.”

He was asked if Labour would stop accepting donations from Mr Vince.

“First of all, let’s ensure that Dale Vince does come forward and apologise for those remarks, and we will then review the position and take it from there.”

Mr Vince posted again on Monday to say his words “were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism”.

He added: “My words are aimed at the intervention of Netanyahu who in my opinion overlooks the impacts of his own terrorism.

“If antisemitism is rising in the world today then surely on any rational analysis, the biggest single cause of that will be the genocide in Palestine.”