Farage’s secret meeting with Tories at Mayfair club
NIGEL FARAGE has held a secret summit with Boris Johnson supporters at a £1,500-a-year private members’ club to discuss the forging of an electoral pact to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street.
The Brexit Party leader, whose surge in the polls since Theresa May delayed the UK’s departure from the EU has sent shockwaves through the Tories, met pro-Boris MP Priti Patel at the exclusive 5 Hertford Street club in Mayfair earlier this month.
He was joined by his ally, the insurance tycoon Arron Banks, and the DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr. Discussions are understood to have focused on a deal under which MPs in an administration formed by Mr Johnson would agree to stand aside in certain seats in favour of Farage’s party to avoid splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
News of the talks comes as electoral strategists for both Mr Johnson and Mr Farage try to work out how to maximise support for Brexit in a General Election, which could be triggered within months.
The most recent poll by Survation, taken last week, put Labour on 26 per cent, the Tories on 24 per cent and the Brexit Party on 20 per cent, highlighting the difficulties the next Tory leader will face.
A result based on those figures would leave Mr Corbyn in a strong position to enter Downing Street – unless the two other parties could agree on a Brexit alliance.
The 5 Hertford Street club was founded by businessman and socialite Robin Birley seven years ago.
It is frequented by rock stars, oligarchs and Royals – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their first date there – and boasts a roof terrace, cigar room and basement nightclub, Loulou’s, where the cheapest bottle of champagne costs £97.
Friends of Ms Patel claim that the meeting with Mr Farage was ‘accidental’ – but confirm that ‘common ground’ was agreed on Brexit.
Mr Banks said: ‘The most important issue facing this country at the moment is the need to deliver Brexit.’