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General election 2019: Brexit Party will not stand in Tory seats General election 2019: Brexit Party will not stand in Tory seats
(about 1 hour later)
The Brexit Party has announced that it will not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives at the 2017 general election.The Brexit Party has announced that it will not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives at the 2017 general election.
Party leader Nigel Farage said standing candidates across the country could increase the chances of another EU referendum taking place.Party leader Nigel Farage said standing candidates across the country could increase the chances of another EU referendum taking place.
But he said the party would stand against all other parties - and focus on taking seats off Labour.But he said the party would stand against all other parties - and focus on taking seats off Labour.
It had vowed to stand more than 600 candidates. The Commons has 650 seats.It had vowed to stand more than 600 candidates. The Commons has 650 seats.
Launched in April, the Brexit Party does not hold any Commons seats - but the party was the clear winner in the UK's European elections in May.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move, calling it "a recognition that there's only one way to get Brexit done, and that's to vote for the Conservatives".Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move, calling it "a recognition that there's only one way to get Brexit done, and that's to vote for the Conservatives".
But Tory chairman James Cleverly added there was still a "danger" the Brexit Party could split the vote in target seats, leading to the election of MPs who could "frustrate the Brexit process".But Tory chairman James Cleverly added there was still a "danger" the Brexit Party could split the vote in target seats, leading to the election of MPs who could "frustrate the Brexit process".
Explaining his decision to supporters in Hartlepool, Mr Farage said Mr Johnson had recently signalled a "big shift of position" in his approach to Brexit.Explaining his decision to supporters in Hartlepool, Mr Farage said Mr Johnson had recently signalled a "big shift of position" in his approach to Brexit.
He cited a pledge by the PM not to extend the transition period that would follow the UK's departure from the EU. This would see Britain sticking to the European Union's rules on issues such as freedom of movement until December 2020.He cited a pledge by the PM not to extend the transition period that would follow the UK's departure from the EU. This would see Britain sticking to the European Union's rules on issues such as freedom of movement until December 2020.
Mr Farage also said he was encouraged by recent commitments from Mr Johnson to seek further divergence from EU rules in a post-Brexit trade deal.Mr Farage also said he was encouraged by recent commitments from Mr Johnson to seek further divergence from EU rules in a post-Brexit trade deal.
He added that this was a "huge change" from the kind of trade pact that had been planned under former PM Theresa May.He added that this was a "huge change" from the kind of trade pact that had been planned under former PM Theresa May.
'Unilateral Leave alliance''Unilateral Leave alliance'
Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery urged voters to "reject this Thatcherite 1980s tribute act, which would lead to more savage Tory attacks on working class communities". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Donald Trump "got his wish" when Mr Farage announced his electoral strategy.
He said the Brexit Party leader was offering a "Trump alliance" that would lead to "Thatcherism on steroids" and threaten the future of the NHS.
The US president had previously urged the Mr Farage to team up with Boris Johnson, saying they would be "an unstoppable force".
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Farage's decision "shows the Conservatives and the Brexit Party are now one and the same".Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Farage's decision "shows the Conservatives and the Brexit Party are now one and the same".
Mr Farage had previously offered to not to stand candidates against the Tories in certain seats if the prime minister changed aspects of his Brexit deal.Mr Farage had previously offered to not to stand candidates against the Tories in certain seats if the prime minister changed aspects of his Brexit deal.
But the proposal was rejected by Boris Johnson, who said deals with "any other party" would "risk putting Jeremy Corbyn into No 10".But the proposal was rejected by Boris Johnson, who said deals with "any other party" would "risk putting Jeremy Corbyn into No 10".
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said it was "pretty clear" the Tories would benefit from Mr Farage's move, although it was "not as big a boost as we might imagine".
He said Mr Farage's strategy would not provide assistance to the Tories in marginal seats they are hoping to take off Labour.
"Nigel Farage's offer doesn't really give the prime minister the price he would really want, which is a free run against the Labour Party," he told BBC News Channel.
Mr Farage said he had "genuinely tried" to forge a so-called "Leave alliance" with the Tories, but his efforts had gone nowhere.Mr Farage said he had "genuinely tried" to forge a so-called "Leave alliance" with the Tories, but his efforts had gone nowhere.
"In a sense we now have a Leave alliance, it's just that we've done it unilaterally," he added."In a sense we now have a Leave alliance, it's just that we've done it unilaterally," he added.
Mr Farage has already confirmed he will not be standing himself in the election, saying he wanted to concentrate on helping his party's candidates.Mr Farage has already confirmed he will not be standing himself in the election, saying he wanted to concentrate on helping his party's candidates.
Will Brexit Party move help the Conservatives? Mr Farage will not contest seats where the Tories are running - a "big step in the right direction", says one Cabinet minister.
By BBC political analyst Peter Barnes "It really clarifies it for a significant subgroup who were still very torn," says another member of the government.
The Brexit Party's decision to stand aside in constituencies the Conservatives won in 2017 should make it easier for them to hold on to those seats. Hypothetically, the decision by the Brexit Party leader makes it notionally easier for the Tories to keep seats they hold already.
In marginals like St Ives and Mansfield, it ought to help them keep a bigger share of the pro-Leave vote. But it's a million miles away from giving them a clear run.
However, to win a majority in the House of Commons the Conservatives need to win more seats - not just hold on to what they have. Read more from Laura.
And in those places the presence of a Brexit Party candidate may get in the Conservatives' way.
The best estimates suggest that 29 of the Conservatives top 50 targets, and 59 of the top 100, are in Labour-held seats that voted Leave in the referendum.
If the strategy is to target Leave voters in those places, it would probably be better to have a clear run - without the Brexit Party.
Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe said Mr Farage had gone "a very, very long way" by ruling out standing in seats won by the Tories at the last election.
"That is an enormous concession, it is, as he put it himself, a sort of unilateral pact," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.
She added: "You really can't expect that we're not going to take Labour on, and we are and any consequences that flow from that are down to Boris's stubbornness."
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said the Conservatives have "effectively become the Brexit Party".
Pro-Remain election pactPro-Remain election pact
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said the Conservatives have "effectively become the Brexit Party".
She added that defeating the Tories in Scotland "will help deprive Boris Johnson's increasingly extreme and right-wing party of the majority they crave".She added that defeating the Tories in Scotland "will help deprive Boris Johnson's increasingly extreme and right-wing party of the majority they crave".
Anti-Brexit parties Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have agreed not to stand against each other in 60 seats across England and Wales.Anti-Brexit parties Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have agreed not to stand against each other in 60 seats across England and Wales.
Their pact means that, in Wales, two of the parties will agree not to field a candidate, boosting the third candidate's chances of picking up the Remain vote.Their pact means that, in Wales, two of the parties will agree not to field a candidate, boosting the third candidate's chances of picking up the Remain vote.
In England, it will simply be a two-way agreement between the Lib Dems and the Greens.In England, it will simply be a two-way agreement between the Lib Dems and the Greens.