Farage Denies Tory Merger Assurances to Donors

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has denied reports that he privately assured donors of an impending deal or merger with the Conservative Party ahead of the next general election. The claims, based on conversations with Reform supporters, emerged as the party maintains a strong lead in opinion polls, prompting speculation about potential right-wing alliances in British politics.

According to accounts shared with the Financial Times, Farage described such an agreement as inevitable, though it would unfold on Reform's terms and require time due to lingering distrust. One donor recounted Farage citing a sense of betrayal from the 2019 election, when his then-Brexit Party withdrew candidates from hundreds of seats to bolster Boris Johnson's Conservatives against Labour. Farage reportedly framed any future cooperation as a "reverse takeover," positioning Reform to absorb the weakened Tories rather than negotiate as equals.

Farage swiftly rejected the characterizations, telling the Financial Times, "Sometimes people hear what they want to." In a subsequent post on X, formerly Twitter, he elaborated: "After 14 years of dishonesty lies they should never be forgiven. The idea I'd work...