Nigel Farage is backing Reform UK to match the Tories in the polls within a week.
The former Ukip chief is hoping his insurgent party will be riding the crest of a wave after his bombshell decision to lead the party into the General Election.
He told a packed room of reporters he intends to lead a “political revolt” as he laid out his lofty ambitions for the insurgent party.
Asked on GB News by Camilla Tominey when he can expect his party to challenge the Tories in the polls, the 60-year-old said it could come about sooner than expected.
“Everyone knows that the election is over in terms of who wins”, he said.
“But I think what will happen is we will take equally from the Conservatives, Labour and non-voters.
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“I would hope that within a week, we will be equal with the Conservatives and maybe ahead.
“And I think that is possible. It’s possible because it won’t just be Tories switching, it will be Labour too.”
After taking the reins from Richard Tice, Farage was bullish as he set out his ambitions for the upcoming 4 July vote.
He is expecting “many more” votes compared to what Ukip accrued in the 2015 General Election.
“So our aim in this election is to get many, many millions of votes. And I’m talking far more votes than Ukip can got back in 2015”, he said.
He continued: “When people start to realise in the red wall, with Reform second to Labour, when they start to realise that actually in those seats, it’s a Conservative vote that’s a vote for Labour, it’s a Conservative vote that is a wasted vote, then I think we might just surprise everybody.”
He added: “We are appealing to Conservative voters, we are appealing to Labour voters.”
But the Conservatives claimed Brexiteer Mr Farage risked helping Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
A party spokesman said: “Nigel Farage risks handing Keir Starmer a blank cheque to rejoin the EU, impose the retirement tax on pensioners and hike taxes on hardworking Brits up and down the UK.
“Farage knows that Reform won’t win any seats, but he doesn’t seem to care that a vote for Reform only helps Labour. He’s doing exactly what Keir Starmer wants him to do.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “The Conservative Party has already become the mirror image of Nigel Farage’s Reform.
“Rishi Sunak’s constant pandering to Reform has horrified former lifelong Conservative voters in the centre ground.
“Sunak must show some backbone and rule out Farage ever joining the Conservative Party in future, including if he gets elected to be an MP.”
