Yahoo News Nigel Farage says he will spoil his ballot paper at the general election
Nigel Farage has confirmed he will spoil his ballot paper at the general election.
The Brexit Party leader revealed he will make the controversial move rather than vote for the Conservative candidate in his constituency.
Speaking on a panel on BBC’s Question Time in front of an audience of under-30s on Monday night, he said: “I’m going to spoil my ballot paper.”
He added: “I think you should vote and spoiling your ballot paper is a form of voting.
“I would never stay home.”
His remarks were seized on by presenter Emma Barnett, who asked: “If the leader of the Brexit Party can't support Brexit, what is the point of the leader of the Brexit Party?”
Mr Farage replied: “Because it’s not Brexit.”
After previously promising to run Brexit Party candidates in almost every constituency, Mr Farage performed a U-turn and withdrew those in Tory-held seats. He also refused to stand himself, having failed on seven previous occasions.
This week, Mr Farage said the Brexit Party will be renamed the Reform Party if Britain leaves the EU in January.
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One audience member said the only reason Mr Farage is against prime minister Boris Johnson’s deal with the EU is “because he likes being on TV”.
Mr Farage said: “Let me assure you, I don't need to sit here to be on TV.”
On Tuesday, Mr Farage claimed Mr Johnson’s "oven-ready" Brexit deal will give the country "indigestion for years”.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we pass before Christmas, if he wins the election, which looks likely, if we pass the current EU treaty, this doesn't get Brexit done, it takes us into years of negotiation.
“If you're a Leave voter, do not waste your vote and vote Conservative if you're in one of those seats that has never returned a Conservative MP.”
