GB News halted for 'breaking news' announcement - Nigel Farage won't be happy

GB News presenter Dawn Neesom interrupted her regular Saturday afternoon programming to break the news Reform's James McMurdock has resigned as an MP. Looking serious as she addressed the camera she told viewers: "In the last few minutes, Reform UK has confirmed that MP James McMurdock has removed the party's whip from himself and will now sit as an independent MP, taking reforms number of MPs down to four." As she spoke a lengthy statement confirming the news was broadcast on screen.

The statement from Reform UK Chief Whip Lee Anderson announced he had surrendered the party whip pending an investigation with the allegations said to be related to business propriety during the pandemic before he became an MP. It is beleved the allegations are about to be published by a national newspaper which forced his hand. McMurdock, who was the Reform UK MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock had only been an MP for a year since July 4, 2024. He narrowly won his seat with just over 30 per cent of the total vote last year. He accumulated 12,178 votes, less than 100 more than the Labour candidate standing in the same seat.

The full statement read: "I have today received a call from James McMurdock who has advised me, as Chief Whip, that he has removed the party whip from himself pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations that are likely to be published by a national newspaper.

"The allegations relate to business propriety during the pandemic and before he became an MP.

"At Reform UK we take these matters very seriously and James has agreed to cooperate in full with any investigation. We will not be commenting further at this moment."

This latest scandal to dog McMurdock comes after it emerged in July 2024 he had been jailed nearly two decades ago for repeatedly kicking his then-girlfriend in 2006 while drunk outside a nightclub.

The MP, who is now a married father-of-four, described the incident as "the biggest regret of my life".

In a statement when the news emerged he said: "While I absolutely deny the horrific details in this tale, there is one truth in it that I cannot, nor will not deny or hide from.

"....Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic. Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault.

"I was charged for what I did, not for what has been claimed, and I faced the consequences then and paid for my action in full. This is the biggest regret of my life and I wish I could go back in time and fix things."