Farage: bad EU treaty or a delay? I’d always do the latter

NIGEL FARAGE yesterday attacked Boris Johnson’s deal and said that he would rather delay leaving the European Union than accept the Prime Minister’s new treaty.

The Brexit Party leader also came under fire after attacking Jean-claude Juncker for saying the EU should not agree to delay the UK’S withdrawal from the bloc beyond Oct 31.

Mr Johnson’s deal offers a much harder Brexit than Theresa May’s deal, but it falls far short of the red lines set by hardline Brexiteers like Mr Farage who believe we should pursue a ‘clean break’ exit from the EU.

MPS are set to vote on the 11th hour agreement in a historic session in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Reacting to news of the deal, Mr Farage said: “Look, I would much rather we had an extension and a chance of a general election than accept this dreadful new EU treaty.”

He added: “I would very much like us to leave on the Oct 31 but I understand that the Benn Act has been passed and that makes it impossible.

“But would I rather accept a new European treaty that is frankly very bad for us or would I prefer to have an extension and a general election?

“I would always go for the latter option.”

Mr Farage suggested that the Tories enter an electoral pact with his party if MPS vote the deal down tomorrow.

Mr Farage also took a swipe at Mr Juncker, the European Union president, for telling reporters in Brussels that “there will be no prolongation”.

‘The EU shows itself to be a thuggocracy – power without accountability. Appalling people’

Mr Juncker added: “We have concluded a deal and so there is not an argument for further delay. It has to be done now.”

Mr Farage hit back on Twitter, saying: “So an unelected, retiring bureaucrat says: No extension, take this new treaty or just leave.

“He is overriding the Benn Act. The EU shows itself to be a thuggocracy. Power without accountability. Appalling people.”