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Nigel Farage today signalled that his Brexit Party would be prepared to make a General Election pact with the Tories if they back a no-deal exit from the EU.
However, he also threatened to “fight” all constituencies, including those held by the Conservatives, if the Government opted for a watered-down version of Theresa May’s Brexit plan.
Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain what his stance would be if the Tories stood on a no-deal platform in a General Election, Mr Farage claimed: “Then our support and the Conservative support together would be unstoppable and Boris Johnson would win a very big majority.”
Pressed on whether this meant the Brexit Party would not stand against Tory candidates, he added: “I would put country before party in those circumstances.” But a tie-up between the Brexit Party and the Conservatives, however loose, is likely to alienate some centrist Tory voters, particularly those who oppose leaving the EU.
Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan swiftly poured cold water on the prospects of a deal between the two parties.
The Brexit Party today announced some 635 candidates to stand in a General Election, if one is called, and Mr Farage warned the Prime Minister against seeking to “reheat” Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement — which was three times rejected by the Commons.
“Even without the backstop, it’s still the worst deal in history,” he added.
“So we are standing and we will stand in every seat in this election and will say to Boris Johnson ‘if you sell us out on Brexit with this awful Withdrawal Treaty we will fight you in every seat’.”
