Farage Expects to Lead Conservatives, Citing Reform UK's Electoral Triumph

Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, believes that he would be chosen as the leader over Rishi Sunak by Conservative members. This comes after Reform UK achieved their best ever by-election results, with double-digit vote shares in both Kingswood and Wellingborough. Farage stated that he would eventually end up in the same party as Conservative MPs, like Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. He also made it clear that Reform's success is due to the Conservatives' failure in government, not because of Reform itself. Additionally, Farage dismissed the possibility of repeating the Brexit Party's 2019 deal with the Conservatives, which aimed to prevent Labour from gaining power. According to him, there is no chance of such an alliance happening again. As a GB News presenter, Farage has been warmly received at Tory events and has been praised by right-wing supporters for his role in delivering Brexit. Although he started his political career as a Conservative, Farage left the party in the 1990s due to their pro-European stance. However, he has expressed a willingness to return if the party aligns more with his right-wing views. Following the by-elections, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former cabinet minister, emphasized the need for the Conservatives to appeal to voters who have turned to Reform. He acknowledged the common ground between the two parties but reaffirmed his support for Rishi Sunak's leadership. While Farage is committed to supporting Reform, he hasn't determined the level of his involvement in the party's general election campaign. Despite Reform's growing support, Farage conceded that they won't win the upcoming general election but believes they have the potential to win in the future. Reform's recent success in the by-elections aligns with their national polling numbers, which have seen a significant increase in recent months. The party's policies, such as a stricter stance on immigration and scrapping the government's net zero commitments, resonate with many on the right of the Conservative Party. Overall, Farage's comments highlight his belief that Conservative members would choose him as their leader and showcase the growing influence of Reform UK in the political landscape.