Jim Allister announces partnership with Reform UK – BBC News

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister has announced a formal “partnership” with Reform UK in the upcoming general election.

He made the announcement as Reform UK leader Richard Tice attended the TUV’s annual conference in County Antrim.

Mr Allister said they will sign a “memorandum of understanding”.

And the parties will later announce “agreed candidates” for constituencies in Northern Ireland in the forthcoming Westminster election.

During his speech to party members Mr Allister said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had “no mandate” for its return to Stormont.

Mr Allister told party members the UK is “being dismantled” as a result of post-Brexit trade rules for NI.

The conference comes six weeks after devolved government was restored when the DUP ended its two-year boycott.

Mr Allister, whose party has strongly opposed the DUP’s decision, said that the “leverage to force change” has been “surrendered”.

The assembly member for North Antrim told TUV members that “having fought not one but two elections on rejection of the protocol, the DUP has no mandate for its return to Stormont”.

Mr Allister argued there “ought to have been a fresh assembly election”, but the DUP’s “acceptance of the Irish Sea border” will come under scrutiny at the next general election.

Speaking at the conference, Reform UK leader Richard Tice outlined his party’s priorities including healthcare, immigration and defence.

Concluding his speech, he said: “I believe in the United Kingdom.

“I believe with the right leadership we can truly make the United Kingdom great again.”

The TUV conference is also set to hear speeches Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib, a former Brexit Party MEP.

Mr Allister has previously welcomed “building a relationship” between TUV and Reform UK.