PM leaves door open for Farage Tory return but ex-UKIP boss says: 'No, no, no'

03 October 2023 , 13:45

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Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage would be welcome in the Tory party, the PM said (Image: Getty Images)

Nigel Farage has quashed claims he could rejoin the Tories after Rishi Sunak left the door open for the former UKIP leader.

The Prime Minister refused to rule out letting Mr Farage back into the Conservative Party. But Mr Farage, who spearheaded Brexit, replied "no, no, no" to the suggestion, while Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands also said he would not welcome it.

Mr Farage is in Manchester for the Conservative Party conference and attended a speech on the conference fringes by Tory former PM Liz Truss. The prominent Brexiteer was also videoed dancing with Conservative ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel to Can't Take My Eyes Off You.

Mr Farage told GB News: "Would I want to join a party that's put the tax rate up to the highest in over 70 years, that has allowed net migration to run at over half a million a year, that has not used Brexit to deregulate to help small businesses? No, no and no." He added: "I achieved a lot more outside of the Tory Party than I ever could have done from within it."

Earlier, Mr Sunak was asked whether Mr Farage could be welcomed back into the Tory bosom, "The Tory party is a broad church,” he told GB News. "I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values."

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Ex-Business Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg described Mr Farage as a "very effective campaigner" and said he shared "most of his political views". The former Cabinet Minister told BBC Politics: "I think Nigel is broadly a Tory and always has been. If he wanted to join I can't think his membership would be refused."

But Mr Hands told the same programme: "I think he's been most recently advocating voting for another political party. That is not consistent with being a member of the Conservative Party." Pressed if he would welcome Mr Farage into the party, Mr Hands replied: "No, I don't think I would because I think he's repeatedly for the last 30 years or more advocated voting for other political parties.

"I think he said he doesn't want to see the Conservative Party succeed so I don't think I would." Sir Jacob hit back: "We're always delighted if people cross the floor."

Ben Glaze