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TRUMP TAKEOVER
Donald Trump hijacked the Republican party and I’d LOVE to do the same to the Tories, Nigel Farage says
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NIGEL Farage has hinted he could launch a bid to “hijack” the Conservative Party in the style of Donald Trump.
The Brexit firebrand, 60, said he “would have loved” having a go at a hostile takeover of the Tories – just like his ex-President pal did to the Republican Party in America.
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Farage revealed his Trump-style plans on our brand-new election show which you can watch EVERY weekday on thesun.co.uk or on The Sun's election YouTube channel here.
Speaking on today's episode of Never Mind The Ballots, Reform Party president Farage said: “What Trump did of course, is he was able to hijack the conservative party in America.
“I’d love to have had a crack at that here in this country.
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"But of course, there’s no open primary in this country.
“The Conservative Party, several times, said they wouldn’t have me as a member.
“And it’s why getting anything changed in Britain is really, really hard.”
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It meant Trump was able to run against Hillary Clinton in 2016 as the Republican Party candidate after securing the most votes from members, despite having no background in politics.
He has since kept close control of the GOP, with candidates aligned with Trump rising to top roles in the party.
Yet in the UK most candidates to lead parties are whittled down by MPs before members get a say - which Farage claimed prevents figures like him from leading the Tories.
The low migration campaigner also failed to rule out the possibility of billionaire Trump, 77, endorsing Reform in the future.
Asked by Sun Political Editor Harry Cole if all Reform are doing is “helping Keir Starmer win”, Farage contested that if his party folded tomorrow, very few voters would go back to the Tories.
He said: “In terms of winning seats, I think we can win a few - not many - because of the system we’re having to live with.
“I think there has to be a re-alignment of the right.”
Farage added he did not regret pulling out of more than 300 Tory-held seats to allow Boris Johnson a clear run at a majority.
In the interview, which can be seen on The Sun’s Election YouTube channel, Farage revealed he could be tempted to strike a deal with Rishi Sunak if he got something in return.
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Farage insisted he had done the party many "favours" for the Conservatives over the years - asking the PM: "What are they going to do back for me?"
The Reform party honorary president added: "Give me something back. We might have a conversation.”
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FOR WHOM THE BELL POLLS
THE Sun's exclusive polling reveals that Labour is on course for a big win on July 4.
for a big win on July 4.
Savanta expert Chris Hopkins said: "The polls haven't moved in 18 months.
"There's this assumption that they're now going to start moving as soon as the election campaign is called.
"But I think what we've seen so far in the race is that Rishi Sunak isn't a great campaigner, frankly.
"And I think that there's this there is still this assumption that if the polls move, they will move in one direction, i.e. they will narrow.
"I don't think that's a given at this point. I think that, as Ryan said, you know, Labour have to have an incredibly safe campaign.
"And I think it doesn't it doesn't benefit them to to go all guns blazing on policy."
Pollster Chris added: "I think, you know, 'safe' is kind of the the word of the day.
"Sure, the Conservative Party has to come out with something, but it does feel like a really real core vote strategy at the minute."