Ben Habib has warned that the Conservative Party "must become conservative" if it wants to avoid "being obliterated" at the next election, accusing the party of having "damaged" the country.
Writing for GB News, he accused the current government of having "replaced aspiration with dependency and wealth creation with an ever diminishing wealth redistribution", warning: "Our economy is going down the drain."
The former MEP, who stood as a candidate for Reform UK at the Wellingborough by-election, added: "It has allowed rampant immigration, the undermining of British workers and our labour market.
"Our public services are consequentially overburdened without the resources to meet the massive increases in demand.
Ben Habib has warned that the Conservative Party "must become conservative" if it wants to avoid "being obliterated" at the next election
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"The way we have practised immigration is tearing at the social fabric of the country.
"We are suffering all the symptoms of a protracted spell of Labour in office."
Speaking about the upcoming election, he added: "The coming general election is likely to result in the Conservative Party being obliterated. If it wishes to avoid that outcome, the answer is simple.
"It does not need a pact or merger with Reform UK, it merely must become conservative.
"But so far from conservative principles have its MPs and executives departed that there can be no way back for them. They must not be given any more opportunity to damage the country."
Rishi Sunak suffered a double by-election defeat last week losing in both Wellingborough and Kingswood.
The defeats mean the Conservative Party has now lost more by-elections in a single parliament than any administration since the 1960s.
Wellingborough, which was previously held with a Conservative majority of 18,540, was won by Labour with a majority of 6,436. This represents a swing of 28.5 percentage points - the second largest swing from Tory to Labour at any by-election since World War 2.
Kingswood was previously held with a Conservative majority of 11,220, but was last night won by Labour with a majority of 2,501 - a swing to Labour of 16.4 per cent.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the circumstances surrounding the by-elections were “particularly challenging”. But Sir Keir Starmer said the results of the by-elections show the public “want change”.
“These are fantastic results in Kingswood and Wellingborough that show people want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it,” he said.
Reform UK saw its best by-election results after targeting disgruntled voters on the right, securing more than 10 per cent of the vote in both seats, for the first time in any by-election.
Reform deputy leader Ben Habib won 13 per cent of the vote in Wellingborough, while Rupert Lowe won 10 per cent in Kingswood.
The party's leader, Richard Tice, said the result in Kingswood shows it is now a “significant force in British politics”.
He told GB News the Tories should step aside and let him take on “and beat” Keir Starmer.
Speaking in the wake of last night’s by-elections, the leader of Reform UK told GBNews: “I think people are realising the Tories are tired, that they are old and they are toxic. They've had the chance - they've blown it, frankly, they should stand aside now having messed up.
"My message to them is let me take on Keir Starmer and beat him. You've got to be optimistic. I've got loads of it.”
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Richard Tice said the result in Kingswood shows it is now a “significant force in British politics”
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Asked if he was prepared to step aside himself should the Tories approach him and agree to adopt some of Reform UK’s policies, Tice said: “No way. It had a chance before. No one believes a word they say anymore.
"They said that last time and we fell for it. We're not falling for that nonsense again. No one trusts them. I’ve still got the scars on my back from last time. A week tomorrow we will be releasing the draft of our election contract with the people which will cover all of these areas in great detail, including costings.
“We're not calling it a manifesto - we're calling it an election contract with the people as it is a draft election contract between us and the voters. We're looking at a range of stuff and people will agree with some of the numbers and they'll disagree with others.
"But in a sense, by doing it as a working draft, that's actually a good thing. You're saying, ‘look, we're not perfect, but at least we're putting it out there'. And then people can comment and decide.”
