The Brexit Party leader told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar on Politics eight top Brexit Party figures, including himself, were offered peerages and involvement in the Brexit negotiations in return for standing down as election candidates. This comes after former Tory minister and Brexit Party candidate Ann Widdecombe claimed a senior official at Number 10 offered her a Brexit role with the same condition. Mr Farage also claimed the Brexit Party candidate for Peterborough Mike Greene was offered a job in higher education by Boris Johnson’s chief of staff Eddie Lister if he stood down.

These alleged offers, branded “corruption” by Mr Farage, come after the Brexit Party willingly stood down in 317 Tory-held seats – but refused to stand down in Labour-held constituencies.

However, Conservative Security Minister Brandon Lewis denied that any such deals were offered, saying: “We are not offering deals, we are not doing deals.”

In an interview with The Parliament Magazine in June, Mr Farage claimed the Brexit Party have a “legitimate” right to be included in any further talks between the UK and EU.

He said his fledgling party should be involved with the Brexit process after its stunning win in the European Parliament elections in May.

READ MORE: Why Referendum Party proves ‘Farage doesn’t need to be MP’

The Brexit Party won 29 seats with 30.5 percent of the vote, thrashing all the established parties.

The Liberal Democrats came in second with 16 seats and 19.6 percent of the vote, followed by Labour, the Green Party and the Tories in fifth place.

The belief that this gives the Brexit Party itself a “legitimate” right to be part of the Brexit negotiations is likely why he and other Brexit Party politicians have not caved to the alleged offers, instead choosing to  fight for seats in Parliament.

Ms Widdecombe told LBC’s Andrew Pierce: “I said you can’t flatter me and butter me up now. 

“The person who sanctioned the offer made a misjudgment.”

In the same interview he accurately predicted that it was unlikely the UK would leave the EU by October 31.

His comments were made as Boris Johnson battled other Tory MPs to be the party leader and next Prime Minister, but Mr Farage said he did not think any of the candidates had what it takes to meet the Hallowe’en deadline.

He said: “The chances are pretty low. I do not see this happening under any of the Tory party leadership contenders.

DON’T MISS
Brexit backlash: How Leavers could oust Dennis Skinner after 50 years [REVEALED]
Brexit U-turn: How Nick Boles backed Boris Johnson to lead UK exit [INSIGHT]
Key Welsh Labour heartlands that could decide election result [MAPPED]

“I do not think any of them will do it by October 31.”

Mr Johnson, who came out victorious in this internal election, had promised to take the UK out of the EU “do or die” by October 31, but failed to do so after it was blocked by Parliament.

He is now asking voters to support him in the December General Election to “get Brexit done”.

However, Mr Farage has branded the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal “a sellout” and not a real Brexit.

He said two weeks ago: “It does not get Brexit done. All it does it take us into another three years of agonising negotiations with Michel Barnier in charge.”

Nevertheless, he announced last week the Brexit Party’s decision to stand down in 317 Tory seats, although not any Labour-held seats or those of any Remain-backing parties.

With the General Election campaign now well underway, Mr Farage will be traveling up and down the country promoting the party, whilst not standing for Parliament himself.

Yesterday, he blasted the alleged job offers from Mr Johnson’s team, but admitted there is unlikely to be any legal proceedings about his claims.

However, he did say: “What shocks me is how little shock there is about this”, adding that it highlighted the “rotten and broken politics” in the UK.

He also rebuked Mr Lewis’ denial of the offers, saying that “nobody would ever disagree” that Ms Widdecombe is an “honest woman”.

He added: “Is he calling Anne Widdecombe a liar?”

Source: Read Full Article