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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has said it is “extremely unlikely” that a future Tory leader would take the UK out of the EU by the end of October.
Mr Farage slammed the Conservative Party, which suffered a humiliating defeat in the European elections, as “bitterly divided” after his party came out top in the vote.
The Brexit Party won 29 seats, while the Conservatives suffered their worst ever election defeat, securing just four seats.
Mr Farage said at a press conference in London on Monday afternoon: “The Conservative Party are bitterly divided.
“I consider it to be extremely unlikely that they will pick a leader who is able to take us out on October 31 come what may.”
“We might overnight have made their lives a bit easier but I don’t see them being able to deliver,” he continued.
“I think the real barrier, the real obstruction to all of this is a two-party system that may well have worked in decades gone by but is no longer fit for purpose.”
Mr Farage also took aim at Tory leadership candidates who voted for the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal.
He said: “Which of the leading Tory contenders did not vote for the worst deal in history, Mrs May’s new European treaty? Why would I trust any of them? Why would I believe any of them?”
He also claimed the Labour Party are in “more trouble” than the Conservatives following the European election results.
It comes hours after the former Ukip leader said he wants to “change the shape of British politics” by taking his Brexit Party to a general election after they stormed to victory.
Mr Farage said this morning: “If we don’t leave in October the Brexit party will go on to a general election. We are happy to help any leader who is genuine about us leaving the EU.
“We would like to be part of the negotiating team, use us and give us some responsibility, but they need to be prepared to leave with a clean break Brexit. Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Michael Gove – all of them voted for Mrs May’s European treaty.”
Tory and Labours’ Brexit policies were dealt a hammer blow by voters in a terrible night for both parties in the European elections, while the Brexit Party and Liberal Democrats triumphed.
The Tories secured just 9.1% of the vote – their worst ever national election share – while Labour finished on 14.1%, with voters split between the clear Brexit alternatives offered by Nigel Farage’s new party and the pro-EU Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems, reduced to just a single MEP in 2014, were on 16 after their best ever European results.
Labour had 10, halved from 20, the Greens – who also enjoyed a boost from pro-EU voters – were on seven, up from three in 2014.
Voter turnout in Great Britain was the second highest for an EU election, but still low at 36.7%.
Prime Minister Theresa May said it was a “very disappointing night” for the Conservatives.
“Some excellent MEPs have lost their seats, some excellent candidates missed out. But Labour has also suffered big losses.
“It shows the importance of finding a Brexit deal, and I sincerely hope these results focus minds in Parliament.”
