Boost for Britain’s ruling Conservatives as Brexit Party drops electoral challenge

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said it will not run in 317 Conservative-held seats so it does not split the pro-Brexit vote

Several right-wing newspapers had urged him to do so, saying there was a risk that Britain might not leave the EU if the Labour Party comes to power

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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks at a campaign event in Sedgefield, England. Photo: DPA

Published: 9:58pm, 11 Nov 2019Updated: 10:36pm, 11 Nov 2019

In a major shift, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said on Monday that his party will not run against Conservative candidates in almost half of the UK seats available in Britain’s December 12 election.

Farage said that the party will not run in 317 Conservative-held seats so it does not split the pro-Brexit vote, an announcement that should boost the chances that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives win a majority.

Farage has been under huge pressure from Brexit supporters not to run candidates in seats where there is a risk of splitting the Brexit vote. Monday’s move represents a major change in tactics, for only last week Farage had threatened to run against the Conservatives in every race in the nation – 650 seats are up for grabs – unless they agreed to team up with his Brexit Party.

Johnson refused the offer, which included a demand that he drop his Brexit deal, saying that the Conservatives aimed to win.

Opposition parties such as the Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit altogether. Photo: AP

Farage said the party has “unilaterally” formed a Leave alliance to prevent a coalition of parties that want to stay in the European Union from winning.

Over the weekend, several right-wing British newspapers urged Farage to change tack, saying there was a risk that Britain might not leave the EU if the Labour Party comes to power.