Ipswich Conservative candidate Tom Hunt has confirmed he will be contesting the seat for the party despite days of speculation linking him with Reform UK.

It is understood he had an argument at the start of the week with Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden over the selection of candidates for two vacant seats in the county.

And he has admitted that he admires Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and outgoing leader Richard Tice.

The speculation reached a head on Wednesday morning when The Times reported speculation about his future - and right-wing broadcaster GB News reported that a handful of Tory candidates were considering defecting.

Mr Hunt told this paper: “I will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Ipswich at the forthcoming General Election.

“It’s regrettable that we aren’t on the same side as Nigel Farage and Richard Tice.

"Ultimately we share many of the same views and concerns about the country and the impact that mass migration is having upon it.

“There were some from the next door constituency who wished for there to be a sound Conservative candidate in their area and I was approached.

"But ultimately I owe it to the people of Ipswich to stand and fight where I am. Win or lose. And that is what I will be doing.

“I wish Patrick Spencer all the best as the Conservative candidate in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. I will be meeting him shortly to discuss how we can work together for the good of the Town.

“I will fight with everything I’ve got to retain the Ipswich seat. My priorities are the priorities that have been raised with me on the door step. Immigration, the Town centre, SEND, health services and transport.”

It is understood that Mr Hunt put his name forward for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat which had become vacant. But he decided against making a formal application.

The shortlist for seats in the run-up to an election is decided Conservative Central Office which is overseen by Party Chairman Richard Holden.

After Mr Hunt withdrew from the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat, he found out that Mr Holden himself was seeking the nomination there after the chairman visited Ipswich on Saturday.

Mr Hunt and Mr Holden had a frank exchange of views on Monday, after which Mr Holden withdrew his application and Mr Spencer was chosen by local party members.

Mr Hunt is defending a majority of 5,479 which he won in 2019, but the seat is a key Labour target as Jack Abbott attempts to regain it for his party.