Election blow to Farage as ANOTHER Brexit Party candidate quits saying its fundamentally wrong to challenge Tories

0
185

ANOTHER Brexit Party candidate has quit with a parting shot at Nigel Farage saying it is “fundamentally wrong” to stand in constituencies where the Tories have a chance of winning.

Peter Udale, the party’s nominee in the Cotswolds, urged voters to back the Conservatives.

Peter Udale is the latest Brexit Party candidate to announce he’s standing down

He is the latest Brexit Party candidate to announce he is standing down.

Mr Udale, a Cambridge University graduate, told the Daily Telegraph: “I believe that by far the biggest threat that currently faces this country is a government led by Jeremy Corbyn.

“If he got into No10. he would undermine our economy, our defence and our union.

“I therefore believe it is fundamentally wrong for the Brexit Party, which is strongly patriotic and has a deep allegiance to our union, to stand candidates in constituencies where the Tories have a chance of winning.”

The Gloucestershire businessman added: “I continue to support the Brexit Party in strong Labour constituencies where Leavers are unlikely to swing behind the Tories in large numbers.”

Mr Farage has insisted his party will field at least 600 candidates in the General Election unless Boris Johnson scraps his Brexit deal.

His strategy has led to 20 of his party’s candidates dropping out in recent weeks.

CANDIDATES QUIT

On Wednesday Calum Walker, who had been the candidate in Dundee East, quit saying “we should all back Boris”.

Mr Walker joined Stephen Peddie, who quit his Tonbridge & Malling candidacy in “exasperation”, saying: “Farage cynically parrots the phrase ‘country before party’. I believe it.”

He warned on Twitter the Brexit Party “was evolving from a national asset into a national threat. This is a fantastical and dangerous strategy.”

Paul Brothwood, the former candidate in Dudley South, rejoined the Conservatives, saying “Boris Johnson is the best person to stand up for Britain”.

Lance Forman, one of the party’s MEPs, also broke ranks to say that Mr Johnson’s deal was “acceptable” and that Leave supporters should focus on fighting Jeremy Corbyn.

Meanwhile one of the Brexit Party’s donors revealed he would now support the Tories at the election, warning Mr Farage risked derailing the Brexit cause.

Property developer Jeffrey Hobby, who donated 10,000 to Mr Farage’s party ahead of the European Parliament elections in May, said he believed Mr Johnson was doing a ‘fantastic job’.

Mr Farage has urged Mr Johnson to drop his deal and form an alliance with is party, something the PM has ruled out.

US President Donald Trump, a friend of Mr Farage, has urged the two politicians to form an electoral pact, saying last week that Farage and Johnson together would be “an unstoppable force.”

Mr Farage insisted his party was “the only one offering Brexit” and denied that he was making a Labour victory more likely.

He vowed to “hurt Labour in the most extraordinary way” by personally taking the fight to Jeremy Corbyn in the partys most vulnerable seats.

Pushed on Brexit Party candidates pulling out to back Conservatives, Mr Farage said it is usual for candidates to withdraw at the last minute due to the “huge amount of pressure”.

Mr Farage added: “I’ve never fought an election at which at the last minute candidates didn’t pull out because they realise firstly the full responsibility of doing it and secondly they are coming under a huge amount of pressure.”

Mr Farage enjoys some chips at the start of a nationwide tour for the 2019 general election, in Whitehaven
Mr Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
Nigel Farage was confronted on the campaign trail by Labour voter Karl Connor
Mr Farage visits the Jane Pit in Workington