Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage dampens claims he could join DUP
The MEP is playing down speculation he could link up with the Northern Ireland party in order to enter Parliament.
Friday 11 May 2018 12:33, UK
Nigel Farage has poured cold water on speculation he could join the DUP in order to win a place in Parliament.
A close ally of the former UKIP leader had fuelled suggestions Mr Farage might be on the verge of linking up with the Northern Irish party.
Millionaire businessman Arron Banks, who previously bankrolled UKIP, is attending a DUP fundraiser alongside Mr Farage in Belfast on Friday night.
Speaking to Sky News' Adam Boulton, Mr Banks refused to rule out both he and Mr Farage switching his party allegiance ahead of the event.
He said: "All things are possible in politics. We've seen [Donald] Trump, we've seen all manner of things.
"I would discount nothing, I would include nothing."
Comparisons have been drawn with former Tory minister Enoch Powell, who returned to Parliament as an Ulster Unionist Party MP in the 1970s.
However, Mr Farage soon appeared to dismiss the claims, highlighting how he was elected a UKIP MEP in 2014 and leads a grouping in the European Parliament.
"None of that is going to change!," he added.
Since ending his most recent stint as UKIP leader in 2016, Mr Farage has distanced himself from the day-to-day running of the party and warned recent infighting and leadership troubles have seen it on the "path of self-destruction".
His appearance at Friday's DUP fundraiser prompted the resignation from the party of Portadown councillor David Jones, who was UKIP's Northern Ireland spokesman.
As reported by the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Jones said he had been "uncomfortable with issues within the party organisation over the past 18 months".
He added: "I have no concern at the DUP inviting whoever they wish to speak to them.
"But I was concerned the former leader neglected to inform the local party.
"He had also previously ignored my request to either visit or comment on the issues of the border.
"I felt this was a slight on those members, friends and volunteers who had over the years given freely of time and money to the party."
The newspaper reported Friday night's event has been titled "Brexit and Beyond" and is being hosted by DUP MPs Ian Paisley, Sammy Wilson and Paul Girvan.
Mr Banks spoke to Sky News after vowing to challenge an Electoral Commission finding of electoral offences by Leave.EU, a Brexit campaign group he co-founded.