Nigel Farage pulls out of TV interview as pressure mounts to stand Brexit Party candidates down
Nigel Farage pulled out of a TV interview today as his allies ramped up pressure to drop Brexit Party candidates and form a 'Leave alliance' with the Tories.
Allies of Farage and of Boris Johnson were in secretive last-minute talks over the weekend to try to strike a deal ahead of Thursday's 4pm cut-off for candidate nominations.
But Farage stood by a threat to stand 600 Brexit Party candidates if a deal fell through - leading to fury from long time ally Arron Banks.
The insurance tycoon claimed it could "split the vote so badly it could open the door of 10 Downing Street to Jeremy Corbyn". He added: "It is time for Nigel and his supporters to be realistic."
It is a humiliation for Farage, who originally demanded Boris Johnson "renounce" his Withdrawal Agreement to save facing the Brexit Party in 600 seats across the country.
Days later he watered down the threat after it prompted a massive backlash and some Brexit Party candidates quit.
Farage's compromise now calls for changes to the Political Declaration, to rule out an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, or a future trade deal that has "regulatory alignment" with the EU.
A Brexit Party source admitted: "We’ve compromised a hell of a lot because we want to ensure something happens."
But the Mirror understands that the Tory PM is still reluctant to strike any deal with the Brexit Party - which could put off more liberal Tory voters.
Instead Boris Johnson believes that faced with a choice between himself and Jeremy Corbyn , Leave voters will back the Tories.
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