Boris Johnson gives verdict on Tory deal with Nigel Farage's Reform UK

Boris Johnson insisted the Tories should not strike a deal with Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The former Conservative prime minister insisted his party, which suffered a devastating defeat at the last election and is languishing behind Reform in opinion polls, will "come back".

It comes amid calls from some Tory figures including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg to "unite the right" in order to defeat Labour, although a pact has been publicly ruled out by both Mr Farage and Kemi Badenoch. Asked if the Conservatives should strike a deal with Mr Farage, Mr Johnson told the Harry Cole Saves the West YouTube show: "The answers to this country's problems are going to be Conservative answers. The Conservative Party is the oldest, most successful party in the world. It will come back."

Mr Johnson took a swipe at the insurgent party's rise in the polls, saying: "That party was on zero when I was Prime Minister... and that was because we got Brexit done."

And he raised doubts over whether Reform "will even exist" before the next general election, due in 2029.

The ex-PM dodged a question on ongoing speculation he could stage a political comeback.

He said: "I am very happy... I've got a book I've got to finish and all sorts of stuff."

Mr Johnson praised Tory leader Mrs Badenoch as "easily the sparkiest and the most intellectually original" of all current party leaders".

And he hit out at Sir Keir Starmer and the state of Britain under the Labour Government.

He said: "We have got unemployment rising again. We have got long-term interest rates. We've got yields on British government debt at a 30-year high.

"We've got people fleeing this country, investors fleeing this country."

Mr Johnson was forced out of No 10 in 2022 and went on to quit as an MP after a "witch hunt" probe into Partygate.

A spokesman for Reform UK said: "Reform UK will clean up Boris Johnson's mess."