Mr Farage has been warned the UK could find itself with a “shabby coalition of socialists, Lib Dems, Scottish and Welsh nationalists” if he continues to fight key seats the Tories are trying to win. One former candidate is urging colleagues to stand down or risk denying Boris Johnson a majority on December 12 and increasing the “hideous” prospect of helping Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10.

Examine your conscience in the cold light of reason

Philip Walling

Philip Walling, who has pulled out of the battle for the Workington seat in Cumbria, said: “I plead with every other Brexit candidate to do what I have done: examine your conscience in the cold light of reason.

“And if you think you risk splitting the Tory vote, and so damaging the best chance of Brexit that Britain has got, then for God’s sake – stand down.”

A YouGov poll of 11,500 voters shows the Brexit Party presents a serious threat to Mr Johnson’s hopes.

But the Prime Minister has already dismissed the Brexit Party challenge, branding the movement out of date and comparing its candidates with “candle-sellers at the dawn of the age of the light bulb” and “sellers of typewriters on beholding their first laptop computer”.

The pressure on Mr Farage mounted further after he appeared to row back on his demands for Mr Johnson to ditch his Withdrawal Agreement in return for an electoral pact to avoid dividing the Brexit vote.

Mr Farage has now said changes must be made to the Government’s political declaration for his party to back the deal.

He said his party will stand at least 600 candidates in the General Election unless the Prime Minister removes the allowance for the Brexit transition period to last until 2022.

Mr Farage had vowed to contest all 650 seats unless Mr Johnson ditched his Brexit deal but has since been urged to focus on a smaller number of Leave-backing areas. Referring to the Tory refusal to strike a deal with his party, Mr Farage said: “It’s not too late for Boris.

“He hasn’t launched his manifesto, a general election is a chance to press the reset button.

“I’d love to see him move from where he is.”

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8.30am update: Boris makes “do or dry” pledge

Boris Johnson claims he has given up drinking until after Brexit is sorted.

The Prime Minister’s “do or dry” pledge follows his failure to keep his “do or die” promise to deliver Brexit by October 31.

Mr Johnson was pictured sipping whisky during a distillery visit in Scotland on Thursday, casting doubt on his commitment to the self-imposed alcohol ban.

His remark came while chatting about health matters with nurses at the King’s Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire.

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