He slapped down suggestions he was in talks with the Tories and insisted that he will not support them in the race for No10.

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The Brexiteer set hares running on Wednesday when he failed to turn up to a press conference which set out Reform UK’s campaign.

Speculation has swirled around the ex-Ukip leader ever since he took part in I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here last year.

He even hinted he could one day rejoin the Tories, telling journalists “never say never”.

And some Tory MPs say they would welcome him into the Party.

But Mr Farage told The Sun on Sunday that the Government had squandered the 80-seat majority they won at the last election — and many Brexit promises.

He said: “The very idea that I might support this Conservative Party in the run up to the next general election shows that commentators have not been listening.

“Record levels of legal immigration continue along with the boats crossing the Channel on every calm day.

“The tax burden is becoming intolerable and small businesses are treated with contempt. We are, increasingly, living in Broken Britain.”

He added: “I’m not in talks with the Conservatives and will not be supporting them.”

Mr Farage said he “fully supports” Reform leader Richard Tice’s view that the party should stand in every seat at the next election.

This will be bad news for the Tories who fear Reform will cost them votes in key seats — and hand them to Labour.

Mr Farage is still weighing up his political future. It is understood he does not plan to run in the general election.

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