Thomas Skinner has revealed the "honest" reason that he has chosen to join Reform UK in a sit-down interview with GB News host Patrick Christys.
Mr Skinner, who first rise to fame on The Apprentice in 2019, was seen posing with leader Nigel Farage in a post to social media with the caption: 'Bosh!'
The star explained that he feels "small businesses have been squeezed" in the past few months and stated that they are "the backbone of the economy".
Mr Skinner said he does not believe Sir Keir Starmer is a bad person, but accused the Labour leader of being “out of his depth” and making repeated U-turns that have eroded trust.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
He explained: "There ain’t really much choice at the moment, if I’m honest. What I like about Reform, personally, is that I’m a small business owner.
"I’ve been working for a long time and I’ve got the same staff I’ve had since I began. And that’s because I look after my staff. Without your staff, you haven’t got a business.
"Now we’ve got one business that makes the same money and takes the same amount as it has done for the last six years, yet at the end of each month you’re getting squeezed more and more and more. And people forget that small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy.
"It’s people like myself and thousands of us who pay the taxes that fund things like the NHS and the roads.
Thomas Skinner said that Reform UK is supporting small businesses
|GB NEWS
"We keep this fantastic country going, and we haven’t had the support that we need. I like what Reform UK is going to do about backing small businesses.
"And I think Keir, bless him, is a little bit out of his depth. I don’t think he’s a bad guy I just think he doesn’t know what he’s doing."
Describing his own working day, starting at 3am at Billingsgate Market before running his fish business, pub and delivery operation, Mr Skinner said he takes pride in supporting local suppliers and British fishermen.
He added that business owners deserve more respect for the risks they take and the wealth they create.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Thomas Skinner fans in meltdown as BBC Strictly star poses up a storm with Nigel Farage after joining Reform UK
- Tom Skinner opens up about men's mental health struggles after creating inspirational walking club
- Thomas Skinner breaks silence on BBC Strictly row as fans rally behind Apprentice star: 'It’s sickening'
Tom Skinner was revealed to join the party yesterday
|X/Nigel Farage
He added: "It’s just getting harder and harder, mate. Everything’s going up.
"You want wages to rise and you want staff to have more money, but if the business isn’t making a profit, you can’t do that.
"The business only works if you’re making money, and we’re getting squeezed, it is happening. Materials are going up, diesel is going up, insurance is going up, rent and rates everything’s going up.
"So there’s less and less money to go around the pot. That’s why I’m a big advocate for supporting local businesses and backing local economies, putting the money back in.
"I’ve been to the NEC for the furniture show, speaking to thousands of manufacturers all across the UK great people. They’re all saying the same thing: we’re getting squeezed alive at the minute.
"Hopefully, there will be a change."
Skinner is the latest high-profile figure to join Reform's ranks.
Last week saw Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, suffer major blows after three of her MPs defected to Mr Farage's party.