’Tis the season to be jolly – unless you’re Reform UK’s Deputy leader Richard Tice, who recently discovered that Croydon’s Grand Sapphire Hotel has more spine than his party’s vetting committee.
The venue cancelled Reform’s Christmas knees‑up after locals pointed out that “festive cheer” doesn’t usually involve Lee Anderson shouting about migrants over turkey and stuffing.
Cue outrage from Tice, who thundered that Britain was turning into North Korea; this from a man whose party until recently harboured its own Russian agent, and may yet discover more.
‘Cancel culture’
He accused the hotel of “caving in to bullies,” which, again, is rich coming from a man whose election slogan might as well be “All I want for Christmas is a grievance.”
Anderson, meanwhile, declared this was yet another example of “cancel culture”.
And he’s quite right; nothing says “cancelled” like being denied your £350-a-head prawn cocktail.
Supporters silenced
London Assembly member for Havering and Redbridge, Keith Prince, drafted in to add gravitas (honest!) insisted Reform supporters were being silenced. Croydon residents, however, seemed more concerned about far-right flatulence.
The hotel’s owner, Suleman Raza, explained that he had a duty to protect staff and guests. And he was also almost certainly influenced by the outraged reaction of the local Muslim community.
Reform UK immediately threatened legal action, presumably hoping to sue their way into a Christmas buffet. Lawyers are bracing themselves for the world’s first writ demanding access to pigs in blankets.
Celebration
But local anti-racist campaigners celebrated the cancellation, noting that Croydon welcomes refugees but not racists.
Tice responded by promising Reform would find another venue. Suggestions so far include a Wetherspoons car park, a disused branch of Debenhams, or possibly Lee Anderson’s shed.
White Xmas
The incident neatly sums up Reform’s year: big talk, bigger outrage, but no pudding. As one Croydon resident put it on social media: “If they want a white Christmas, they can stay at home and shout at the snow.”
Reform? Bah, Humbug!
