Mr Farage and Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice have made it very clear they are in it for the long haul, unveiling 150 prospective Parliamentary candidates in anticipation of a general election. The idea of the Conservatives joining forces Brexit Party has been suggested – but Health Secretary Matt Hancock for one was vociferous in his rejection of the idea last month, insisting: “There is no way we are going to have any kind of electoral pact with the Brexit party.” When the Brexit Party was launched with the stated aim of taking the UK out of the EU and trading with countries on World Trade Organisation terms, Mr Farage said there was “no difference between the Brexit party and UKIP in terms of policy, but in terms of personnel, there’s a vast difference.”

The fledgling political organisation made sweeping gains in the subsequent European Parliamentary elections, but missed out to Labour by 683 votes in the Peterborough by-election on June 7.

Since then, Mr Johnson has been elected as Tory leader, replaced Theresa May as Prime Minister and reiterated his pledge to deliver Brexit by October 31 “do or die”.

Between July 3 and July 24, Conservatives support increased from 23 percent to 30 percent, while support for the Brexit Party fell by the same amount, from 22 percent to 15 percent, suggesting Mr Johnson’s hardline stance had strengthened him hand among wavering Brexit-backing Tories.

Brexiteers have shown little appetite for compromise so far.

Speaking yesterday, Brexit Party MEP John Longworth said: “It is laughable for Boris Johnson to think that removing the backstop alone is Brexit. It would be a betrayal of the referendum.

“To sign up to Theresa May’s terrible treaty in any form would be Brexit in name only.

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“It would leave Britain at the mercy of the EU, under the jurisdiction of the European Court, tied into an EU army command and linked to the customs union.

Mr Farage himself has made little secret of his mistrust of the Conservative Party in general, and Mr Johnson in particular.

Earlier this week he said: “The Brexit Party only exists because the Conservatives failed to deliver on March 29.

“On current form, I have little faith in Boris delivering on October 31. That means we’re here to stay.”

In a reference to comments by another recently elected Brexit Party MEP, Claire Fox, he subsequently tweeted: “As Claire Fox says, it is arrogant for the Conservatives to say we should stand aside.

“They are the very reason we exist. We simply do not trust them to deliver.”

Nevertheless, senior Tories have suggested they should do precisely this.

Deputy Chairman of the European Research Group, Wycombe MP Steve Baker said: “It is becoming obvious to all now that the Brexit Party standing against the Conservative Party would produce a massive own goal.”

Crispin Blunt, a former Tory minister, said: “Are they really interested in Brexit, or are they interested in damaging the Conservative Party?”

Speaking on Express.co.uk’s latest podcast, Brexit: The Final Countdown, Express.co.uk’s head of news Paul Baldwin suggested it was time for the Brexit Party to “back down and start taking a back seat”.

Mr Baldwin added: “Here’s the weird but obvious thing. If they don’t do that, they will be masters of their own downfall.

“Brexit will not happen because the Tories will probably be booted out in a fresh election, if it’s called.

“They have to in their own self-interest, if they are serious about it, implode basically and leave it to Boris I think.”

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