Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice launched a scathing attack on Andy Burnham during a live TalkTV appearance on Tuesday morning, June 23, 2026, branding him 'Captain Flip-Flop' and questioning his suitability for Downing Street. The confrontation came after Burnham emerged as the favourite to become Prime Minister following his victory in the Makerfield by-election and Keir Starmer's bombshell resignation.
Tice's Three-Word Verdict and U-Turn Accusations
Speaking to broadcaster Jeremy Kyle, Tice asked: 'Is he king of the North or is he king of the U-turns?' He continued: 'He's done more U-turns than Keir Starmer for heaven's sake, he's literally Captain Flip-Flop. Well, maybe we'll say that's in their nature.' Tice fumed: 'Does he want to join the EU or not, does he want to pay the WASPI women or not, does he want men to go into women's bathrooms or not, and the list goes on.'
Call for General Election Accusations
Tice brushed off Jeremy Kyle's interruptions, claiming: 'Hang on, this is a bloke who professes to be full of integrity and principle, and consistency. Have you shown the multiple tweets from 2022 when he was calling for a general election now? When the Tories were changing their leader, this man called for a general election.'
Jeremy Kyle Defends Defections
Finally getting a word in, Kyle said: 'You know this of me and I have said this to every political party, I do not believe you can defect as an MP, I've said it to your face and I certainly don't think... the Tories they did it with Liz Truss, they did it with Rishi Sunak and now they're jumping up and down as you all are about this.' Kyle then questioned Tice: 'You know me, I'm straight with you, are Reform rattled by Andy Burnham?'
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