Farage predicts 6m Reform votes as he pitches himself as ‘voice of opposition’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nigel Farage has said he believes Reform UK could get more than six million votes in the General Election as he insisted he could trounce the “hopelessly split” Tory party to be the “voice of opposition” to Labour. And they can’t provide opposition because they are hopelessly split down the middle on policy … “I put it to you that I believe I can be that voice of opposition.” Mr Farage said Tory former minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns’ use of a photo of him on her election campaign leaflet – for which she did not ask his permission – “shows you that depth of division that exists within the Conservative Party”. Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, meanwhile, said the growth of Reform “is just the latest chapter in the Conservative Party’s psychodrama”, pointing to Dame Andrea featuring Mr Farage on her campaign material instead of her own party leader. Mr Streeting said during a visit to West Yorkshire that he hoped Mr Farage would not be elected as the MP for Clacton in Essex, adding: “One thing I would say to people about Nigel Farage is that he’s never been tested on actually delivering on the change he campaigns for.” Elsewhere, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds met top bosses for breakfast to hear their views on Labour’s manifesto.