Oliver Dowden says the Conservatives do not need Nigel Farage to achieve success at the next election.
The former UKIP leader has been linked with a return to frontline politics, with reports claiming a Tory comeback is on the cards.
Farage quit the party 30 years ago, but last week branded them a “shambles” in a scathing assessment of their approach to the migrant crisis.
While MPs like Jonathan Gullis and Mark Francois have talked up the prospect of a Farage return, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is less bullish.
Oliver Dowden is not as bullish on a possible Farage return as some Tory MPs
GETTY / GB NEWS
Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, Dowden said that while the door is open to Farage, the party does not need him to achieve another election victory.
“I don’t think the Conservative Party needs Nigel Farage to win the next election”, he said.
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“Nigel Farage has been supporting UKIP for many years. If he wants to join the Conservatives that’s a matter for him.”
It comes after the GB News star predicted a “catastrophic” defeat at the general election for Rishi Sunak.
He spoke on “fascinating” polling suggesting he was more popular with Tory voters than Rishi Sunak after his stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
He said his popularity among Tory voters was “very flattering”, adding it would “take some time” for him to decide his next move.
Oliver Dowden spoke to Camilla Tominey
GB NEWS
“This Government’s in desperate trouble, headed for catastrophic defeat,” he said.
“They’ve no idea what’s coming down the track towards them. And I think the last thing I heard before I went into the jungle was that (Lord) Cameron was back … if it’s got that bad, they must be in real trouble.
“And I see that he’s just about managed to squeak through a vote on Rwanda. But, I mean, it’s going to make no difference at all.
“They’re in dire, dire trouble. And all Labour have to do is, frankly, not tear each other apart, and play safe and the election is theirs, I think.”
Asked whether he could join the Conservative Party, Mr Farage pointed to polling by JL Partners for The Sun newspapers which he said demonstrated his popularity.
A poll of 2,000 adults suggested that among Conservative 2019 voters Farage had a net popularity rating of plus 18, while Mr Sunak’s rating was minus three.
Farage said: “My approval rating has risen 20% in my time in the jungle, putting me 21% ahead of Rishi.
“It’s all very flattering, a little bit bewildering. It’s going to take some time for me to sort of really take it on board. But fascinating, right?”