Farage Firmly Rejects Tory Alliance: A Stand for Reform UK Independence Amidst Election Turmoil

Nigel Farage dismisses any possibility of aligning with the Conservative Party, asserting his lack of interest in collaborating with them. Previously, he had not explicitly denied the prospect when questioned about his political aspirations.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Sunday, June 30, 2024, 5:

Nigel Farage has declared that he has no intention of becoming a member of the Conservative Party, stating he wants "nothing to do with them."

Certain members of the Conservative Party are encouraging the leader of Reform UK to merge forces with them due to his increasing appeal among voters.

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Mr. Farage previously informed Sky News that it was "not on my agenda," yet he did not definitively dismiss the notion even after persistent questioning.

In a conversation with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby today, he described the party he now heads as "a new political movement" and stated, "I want nothing to do with them [the Conservatives]."

When questioned about excluding the possibility of joining, he responded, "If you can't deduce that my answer is yes, then I’m not sure what more there is to say."

Mr. Farage has capitalized on the disarray within the Conservative Party, making a key point in this election that the Tories are depleted and require replacement.

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He aims for his party to be the main challenger to the anticipated Labour government and has dismissed the idea of forming any electoral alliance with the Conservatives, despite having formed one in 2019 to assist Boris Johnson in gaining constituencies.

Previously known as the Brexit Party, Reform UK was rebranded, and Mr. Farage has criticized the Conservative Party for not reducing immigration post-Brexit, claiming this failure has let down the electorate.

"They're not concerned with the facts. To them, it's merely a game," he said to Beth Rigby.

"They're terrible, truly horrendous," he continued.

Mr. Farage's rhetoric has intensified since an interview conducted a fortnight prior, where he similarly discussed the possibility of aligning with the Conservative Party.

He is launching his eighth attempt to be elected as a Member of Parliament, this time representing Clacton in Essex. Although some surveys suggest he might win, the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system presents challenges for the Reform party in achieving significant gains within just a few elections.

Earlier in the month, Sam Coates, the deputy political editor for Sky News, inquired whether the Tory party might better serve his future aspirations after the election and whether he would dismiss the possibility of joining.

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Mr. Farage expressed skepticism about the event's likelihood and labeled the question as "idiotic".

When asked if his response was an outright rejection, he stated he had "no intention" of aligning with the Tories, though he left the possibility open.

Further Reading: Farage avoids addressing potential Conservative Party move

Certain members of the Conservative Party are urging Mr. Farage to align with them in order to counter the challenge posed by Reform UK, a party positioned further to the right than the Conservatives.

Support for Reform saw a significant increase in the polls following Mr Farage's declaration that he would assume leadership of the party and stand as a candidate in the upcoming election.

Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and previous immigration minister Robert Jenrick support his inclusion, however, the topic is contentious among key leaders such as Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch, and James Cleverly who oppose it.

Following an initially stable launch of his campaign, Mr. Farage has recently found himself at the center of a controversy involving racism. This occurred after a video surfaced showing one of his team members using a racist term to refer to the prime minister. Additionally, one of his candidates has switched allegiance to the Conservative Party.

He has also encountered criticism for claiming that actions by the West and NATO incited Russia's conflict in Ukraine.

The individuals contesting the Clacton seat alongside Nigel Farage from Reform UK include:

• Matthew Bensilum, from the Liberal Democrats

• Craig Jamieson, representative of the Climate Party

• Tony Mack, Unaffiliated

• Natasha Osben, representative of the Green Party

• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, representing the Labour Party

• Tasos Papanastasiou, from the Heritage Party

• Andrew Pemberton, representing the UK Independence Party

• Giles Watling, member of the Conservative Party

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