Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has taken a swipe at Tory leadership hopefuls as he claimed the Conservative Party’s brand is now “split” and “broken”.
Taking to social media, the Clacton MP penned a brief threat on the contenders hoping to win back ex-Tory voters who backed Reform UK on July 4.
He said: “Until now, I have refrained from intervening in the upcoming leadership election — but the time has come.”
Taking aim at Badenoch, Farage wrote: “Kemi Badenoch has spent weeks positioning herself as tough on immigration.
“But in 2018 she campaigned in Parliament to increase legal migration, and was the biggest champion for students bringing in dependents.
“I don’t believe a word that she says on anything.”
Turning his attention to Robert Jenrick, Farage added: “Formerly a man that believed in nothing, Robert Jenrick now pitches himself as the great hardliner.
“This is almost certainly done for political gain and not out of conviction.
“He will divide the party. I doubt that Jenrick will last long if he wins.”
Concluding his thread, Farage said: “The Conservative Party is split down the middle and the brand is completely broken.”
The fight for the right could define part of UK politics ahead of the 2029 General Election.
The four remaining leadership contenders, including former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly, understand the need to win back Reform UK voters to forge a path to power.
YouGov revealed that 25 per cent of 2019 Tories voted for Reform UK.
Jenrick has taken the most hardline stance on Reform UK, vowing to put the populist party “out of business”.
However, Farage’s reaction only illustrates Reform UK’s determination to become an even greater political force in the near future.
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Tom Tugendhat releases video for Tory members as race hots up
The truth is we stopped listening to our members.
That has to change. pic.twitter.com/nqzeX5dEkR
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) September 30, 2024
Jenrick warns Reform UK will ‘condemn Tories to obscurity’ in ECHR warning
Robert JenrickGETTY
Robert Jenrick will use his speech at the ICC today to argue that Reform UK will “grow and grow and condemn us to obscurity” unless the Tories somehow regain trust on bringing down numbers.
He will add: “Our party’s survival rests on restoring our credibility on immigration. If we continue to duck and dance around this question our party has no future.
“Despite what others might falsely claim, we’ve never had a legal cap on legal migration. Unless we introduce one – where no visas will be issued unless net migration is in the tens of thousands or lower – we will be powerless to end the cycle of broken promises. Anyone who is not prepared to commit to a specific cap just doesn’t understand the depth of public anger.
“I am not prepared to gamble the house on some five-year review process that may or may not see us doing what is obviously necessary. I have a plan ready now: leave the ECHR and introduce a legally binding cap on legal migration.
“The choice is clear, it’s leave or remain. In fact it’s more than that – it is leave or die. If we don’t do this now, we’ll never restore the public’s trust and there’s every chance that Reform will grow and grow and condemn us to obscurity.”
‘Dream on!’ Badenoch slaps down Cleverly at late night leadership hustings
James CleverlyPA
Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has slapped down rival James Cleverly after the pair attended a late night leadership hustings yesterday.
The Shadow Housing Secretary’s intervention came after Cleverly said: “I would be the best leader of the party.”
Responding to the former Home Secretary, Badenoch said: “Nice speeches, boys, but I think you all know I’m the one everyone’s been waiting for.”
She added: “We are going to get Angela Rayner, we’re going to get Rachel Reeves and we’re going to get Keir Starmer and to do that we need someone who’s going to cut through, somebody who is going to stand up to them and also face down Farage.
“Somebody who will resonate with the public. James thinks he’s the best – dream on, James. If you want change, vote for renewal, vote for Kemi.”