Reform UK leader Richard Tice to stand in Boston and Skegness

The leader of Reform UK has announced he is to stand as a candidate in Boston and Skegness at the general election.

Richard Tice announced his intention to stand in the Lincolnshire constituency on social media on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Reform UK founder and honorary president Nigel Farage has said he will not stand in the upcoming election.

In a statement, the GB News presenter said he would "do my bit to help" the party in the campaign.

According to Mr Tice, the party would stand in 630 seats across England, Scotland and Wales "no ifs, no buts".

"Contrary to what all the commentators say, the likes of my good friend Lee Anderson and myself, we are going to win seats," he said.

Mr Anderson, who was suspended as a Conservative MP after refusing to apologise for claims Islamists had "control" of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, defected to Reform UK in March.

At the launch of Reform's campaign, Mr Tice said the prime minister was "absolutely terrified" by his party's upward progress in the polls at a time when the Tories have slumped.

"He was terrified as to where this may end up," Mr Tice said.

Mr Tice also hit out at high levels of net migration and the "weak, feeble politicians who have broken Britain", the PA News agency reported.

It comes after Rishi Sunak announced a UK general election for Thursday 4 July 2024.

He said that the fall in inflation, along with the UK's emergence from recession earlier this year, were "proof that the plan and priorities" he had set out were working.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was "time for change" away from "Tory chaos".