Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins has announced that he will stand for Reform UK after a personal request by Nigel Farage - sparking a heated row between two of the party's former top brass.
Speaking to TalkTV this morning, Mullins was probed on whether he was looking to become an MP - and said he'd "start with [being] a local councillor, and see how it goes from there".
He added: "I've been asked if I'd like to do it by Nigel, and yeah - why not? Anything to get Labour out and get Reform in, I think!"
Mullins suggested he'd run somewhere "local" like Lambeth, Bermondsey, Kensington and Chelsea in London - where he "knows the area and knows the people".
But Reform's former deputy leader hit back, ripping into his ex-party for "recruiting arch-Remainer, Charlie Mullins, as a candidate".
"The Brexit Party recruiting Remainers," he jabbed.
Gawain Towler, a close Farage ally and Reform UK's former communications chief, then retorted: "The Brexit Party always had Remainers. It was and is about Democracy... at least 10-15 per cent of Brexit Party members had voted Remain."
"It's not what he voted in 2017 that matters," Habib said. "As recently as last year he was a Remainer. There can be no sovereignty if in the EU. Would be helpful for Reform at least to understand that. At this rate you'll be arguing white is black!"
MORE ON REFORM UK:
Habib has long argued for ideological purity within the party - but Towler appears to be more open to a Zia Yusuf-style "professionalisation".
"To win we have to change minds, and engage with a bigger base, otherwise we are pure - fine - but politically impotent," he said, prompting Habib to accuse him of "preferring political potency" over political philosophy. "That's what landed us in this mess," he jabbed.
The Habib-Towler clash follows a week of warnings of a split on the right within Reform, largely sparked by Farage's falling-out with Elon Musk over the former's refusal to align himself with Tommy Robinson.
The pair have since made up - and may meet at Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.
While Farage is due to head stateside to witness Trump's historic return to the White House, Sir Keir Starmer will be staying at home having missed out on an invitation to Washington.
Find Out More...
Speaking to TalkTV this morning, Mullins was probed on whether he was looking to become an MP - and said he'd "start with [being] a local councillor, and see how it goes from there".
He added: "I've been asked if I'd like to do it by Nigel, and yeah - why not? Anything to get Labour out and get Reform in, I think!"
Mullins suggested he'd run somewhere "local" like Lambeth, Bermondsey, Kensington and Chelsea in London - where he "knows the area and knows the people".
But Reform's former deputy leader hit back, ripping into his ex-party for "recruiting arch-Remainer, Charlie Mullins, as a candidate".
"The Brexit Party recruiting Remainers," he jabbed.
Gawain Towler, a close Farage ally and Reform UK's former communications chief, then retorted: "The Brexit Party always had Remainers. It was and is about Democracy... at least 10-15 per cent of Brexit Party members had voted Remain."
"It's not what he voted in 2017 that matters," Habib said. "As recently as last year he was a Remainer. There can be no sovereignty if in the EU. Would be helpful for Reform at least to understand that. At this rate you'll be arguing white is black!"
MORE ON REFORM UK:
- Jacob Rees-Mogg blasts Tory decision that has ‘played into Nigel Farage’s hands’ as row erupts
- ‘Very sad’: Reform UK councillor hits out as Union Jack flag sparks chaos during Essex meeting
- Ex-Tory Marco Longhi's switch to Reform UK was 'strategically motivated', rival candidate claims
Habib has long argued for ideological purity within the party - but Towler appears to be more open to a Zia Yusuf-style "professionalisation".
"To win we have to change minds, and engage with a bigger base, otherwise we are pure - fine - but politically impotent," he said, prompting Habib to accuse him of "preferring political potency" over political philosophy. "That's what landed us in this mess," he jabbed.
The Habib-Towler clash follows a week of warnings of a split on the right within Reform, largely sparked by Farage's falling-out with Elon Musk over the former's refusal to align himself with Tommy Robinson.
The pair have since made up - and may meet at Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.
While Farage is due to head stateside to witness Trump's historic return to the White House, Sir Keir Starmer will be staying at home having missed out on an invitation to Washington.
Find Out More...