Jacob Rees-Mogg: Farage would be welcomed into Conservative Party

Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed he is open to former Ukip leader Nigel Farage joining the Conservative Party in the future.

The hard Brexiteer and European Research Group (ERG) chairman – who has backed Britain joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after March 29 – has long been an outspoken opponent of Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who claims Mrs May is giving too much power to the EU, is a supporter of a no-deal Brexit, previously branding those warning against it as spreading ‘project fear’.

Mr Rees-Mogg today extended an invitation to former Ukip leader Farage, an outspoken supporter of Brexit and fellow critic of Theresa May’s agreement.

Mr Farage is being lined up as the leader of a new eurosceptic party if the UK extends its negotiation process beyond the Brexit deadline day of March 29.

Mr Rees-Mogg told LBC radio on Monday: ‘If the Conservative Party could reunite with the reasonable elements of Ukip that would be very good news and Nigel would be part of that.’

The ERG campaigner said a move would ‘be much easier now than it would have been when he was still a member of Ukip’ – due to the party’s links to Tommy Robinson.

Mr Farage quit Ukip last year over the party’s leader, Gerard Batten, and his association with English Defence League (EDL) co-founder Tommy Robinson.

The party has come under increased pressure due to its links with the EDL founder and has sought to distance itself from a number of high-profile rallies.

Ukip’s 19 Members of European Parliament (MEP) have all lost their seats, and will leave the chamber in March of this year, while the party have trailed in local elections in the UK.

Mr Rees-Mogg added: ‘It may be a little bit early, though personally I hold Nigel in the highest regard and think he was one of the people who was instrumental in delivering Brexit… but perhaps a little bit more purdah (screening) is required.’

An extension of Article 50 is looking increasingly likely as Theresa May battles to forge a ‘plan B’ Withdrawal Agreement, amid several Cabinet rebellions and cross-party talks.

It followed a tense week for the Prime Minister, who faced off a vote of No Confidence by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, after her Withdrawal Agreement was defeated by a majority of 230 votes in the Commons.

But on Sunday, Mr Farage – who previously said his ‘work was done’ when the UK voted to leave the EU in July 2016 – confirmed he would help lead a new pro-Brexit party if Article 50 was extended.

Mr Farage told the Sun on Sunday: ‘There is huge demand for a party that’s got real clarity on this issue.

‘You can see and hear the frustration welling up out there. It’s clear the political elite want to stop Brexit in its tracks and the prime minister doesn’t have the strength or inclination to see this through.

‘I’ve been watching events with growing dismay – I’m not the only one. Now we are putting them on notice that if Brexit doesn’t happen on 29 March we are not prepared to stand by and do nothing.’