Is Nigel Farage in danger of ushering in a Corbyn government?
If the Brexit Party splits the Leave vote, the Labour leader could end up in Downing Street, says Sky's Rob Powell.
Friday 1 November 2019 15:29, UK
The gloves are well and truly off.
If anyone thought Nigel Farage would meekly stand aside and allow Boris Johnson a clear run in key Brexit seats, they were proved 100% wrong today.
The Brexit Party leader confirmed they would stand against the Tories across the UK, unless the prime minister agreed to a "Leave Alliance" electoral pact.
That would involve Mr Johnson junking his hard-won deal with the EU and going for a basic free trade agreement instead.
It would also mean the Tories standing aside in some Labour held pro-Brexit constituencies to allow Mr Farage's candidates a clean run.
Bar a political flip-flop of epic proportions, Boris Johnson is not going to agree to that.
So what we're left with is a political slugging match between these two Brexit titans that could determine whether the Conservatives are able to form a government come 13 December.
That's because the Brexit Party could hoover up leave supporters from the Conservatives, splitting the Brexit vote and clearing the path for Labour.
But there are dangers for the opposition as well.
Labour leave voters disenchanted with Jeremy Corbyn's fence-sitting Brexit policy could also be pulled towards Nigel Farage.
But the key worry for Downing Street will be over the potency of the poison the Brexit Party is trying to drip into Mr Johnson's deal.
Ever the master communicator, Mr Farage today likened Boris Johnson's agreement to a tired second hand car, saying that if you look under the bonnet it's the "same old surrender treaty".
Could that image stick?
Boris Johnson has managed to carry his deal with Leavers so far, helped in part by his Brexit credentials.
But the next six weeks will see every inch of the agreement scrutinised and pulled apart.
Of course, by coming out fighting against the Tories, Nigel Farage may pave the way for a Corbyn government and a second referendum.
Yet another grand irony in the topsy-turvy world of Brexit.