Nigel Farage has rejected an “irrelevant” merger with the Tory Party and vowed Reform UK is “here to stay”.Writing for The Telegraph, the Reform UK leader made his thoughts clear after a new survey showed over half of Tory members want the two centre-right parties to merge together.A far higher number – 70 per cent – would like the Conservative Party to pursue a “closer relationship” with Farage’s populist party.However, Farage poured damp water on the idea last night.He said: “Reform is here to stay. The Tories had their chance and they blew it. “All talk of whether a future deal between me and the Conservatives can be done is irrelevant.”It is not even on my agenda, I simply don’t trust them.”There is a misunderstanding about the new centre-Right in the Western world. Whether it’s Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party in America or the Freedom Party’s performance in Austria, the old centrist, conservative, stuffy approach to politics no longer inspires.”Farage added: “Political historians will say that the Conservatives can recover and Reform will fade away, but I don’t believe them. I’m used to being told that I’m wrong. “For years, people told me we would never leave the EU. “They said I was wasting my time. But I kept going and we won.”All four leadership hopefuls – Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat – have all ruled out a merger with Farage.
What to expect today?
Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat will make the opening leadership address at 10.45am.Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will follow Tugendhat, before ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.Shadow Housing Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who is seen as the grassroots’ current favourite, will make the final speech.