Nigel Farage has dismissed the possibility of a political pact with Boris Johnson, stating that the public will “never, ever forgive” the former prime minister for his immigration policies. The Reform UK leader’s comments came after Nadine Dorries, a Conservative defector and former culture secretary, called for the right to unite behind both men.
Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage said the “Boris wave” – a term he used to describe a surge in legal immigration after Brexit – had betrayed voters. “Millions were allowed into Britain most of whom don’t work … people will never, ever forgive him,” he said. Farage’s remarks were echoed by Reform’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, who called Johnson “one of the worst prime ministers in British history”.
Dorries, who defected to Reform before its conference on Friday, told a Mail podcast that Johnson and Farage should “accommodate each other’s egos” for the sake of the country. However, Farage rejected the idea, saying he did “not think that would really work somehow”. He welcomed Dorries into Reform despite her support for Johnson, citing the need for experienced government figures.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Farage’s decision to accept Dorries, noting her role in the Online Safety Act, which Reform opposes on free speech grounds. Labour chair Anna Turley said Farage had “admitted he doesn’t have confidence that his team is capable of delivering a plan”. Farage also faced questions about his tax arrangements, including a property owned by his partner and his media earnings routed through a company, but declined to publish his tax return.
