Nigel Farage says 'the Conservative brand is broken'

by · Mail Online

Nigel Farage said the 'Conservative brand is broken' as the final four Tory leadership hopefuls will make their last pitches to conference today. 

The Reform UK leader branded the remaining 121 Tory MPs delusional for thinking the Conservative Party could be back in power in the next five years, claiming a lack of trust among voters is a big issue. 

It comes as Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat will all have an opportunity to address and answer questions at the final day of conference in Birmingham today before parliamentarians narrow the leadership race down to two.

The final two candidates will be put to a ballot of party members, the result of which will be declared on November 2. 

Writing for The Telegraph, Mr Farage wrote: 'Having gone through five leaders since 2016 and indulged in endless internal squabbling, the Tory party is perceived by most voters as being a bunch of careerists more interested in themselves than the country at large. 

Nigel Farage (pictured) said the 'Conservative brand is broken' as the final four Tory leadership hopefuls will make their last pitches to conference today
Robert Jenrick waves to cameras as he arrives in Birmingham with his wife Michelle Berkner
Conservative leadership contender James Cleverly and his wife Susannah arriving at their hotel in Birmingham
Leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch arriving for the conference, which is the party's first since its crushing election defeat in July

'A far bigger headache for them is that they are no longer trusted.' 

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The politician added: 'The truth is that the Conservative brand is broken. It might recover, but I believe it will be many years before that day comes.' 

A senior party source previously told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that the hopefuls' campaigns has so far been 'lacklustre and ponderous'.

Another source said that the race to lead the party was still 'wide open'.

Each of the candidates will have a 20-minute slot on Wednesday for a speech to impress members.

All four will also attend 20 events during the course of the conference, including Q&As, press interviews and panel discussions.

As well as appearing on the main conference stage, the rivals have been trying to woo party members at a variety of fringe events and conference drinks receptions.