Nigel Farage says he COULD re-join the Tories if it becomes a ‘real’ right-wing party after he was feted by activists at conference

Nigel Farage has given his clearest hint yet that he could re-join the Tories – but only if they become a ‘real’ right-wing party.

The Brexit champion has been feted by activists as he attended his first conference in a decade – albeit on a media pass in his capacity as a GB News commentator.

Rishi Sunak has suggested that the door is open for Mr Farage to make a comeback – 30 years after he quit in protest at the Maastricht Treaty.

However, the ex-MEP made clear that could only happen if there was fundamental change.

‘Let’s see what happens. They are going to lose the next election. There will then be the most enormous battle for ideas,’ he told the BBC’s Newsnight.

‘If it became a real Conservative Party I might think about it.’   

Nigel Farage has been feted by activists (pictured) as he attended his first conference in a decade – albeit on a media pass in his capacity as a GB News commentator

Rishi Sunak has suggested that the door is open for Mr Farage to make a comeback – 30 years after he quit in protest at the Maastricht Treaty

Mr Farage gave his clearest hint yet that he could re-join the Tories – but only if they become a ‘real’ right-wing party

Priti Patel and Mr Farage was caught on video parting the night away on Monday 

Mr Farage has been given a rapturous reception by the Tory faithful, and was filmed dancing energetically with Priti Patel to Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

The warmth of members towards Mr Farage has been noted by senior Conservatives, who compared his star quality to that of Boris Johnson. 

A former Cabinet minister told MailOnline he would ‘easily win a Tory leadership election if he made it to the membership’ – although they admitted that MPs would not allow that to happen.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat has also endorsed a return for Mr Farage, although he added that moderate Remainer figures such as Dominic Grieve should come back first.  

The PM insisted the party is a ‘broad church’ and welcomed anyone who shares ‘our values’ when quizzed on the prospect of Mr Farage re-joining. 

Asked during broadcast interviews whether Mr Farage would be allowed back into the fold, Mr Sunak said: ‘Look, the Tory party is a broad church.

‘I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values.’

Pressed whether that extended to Mr Farage, the PM said: ‘Look the thing I care about is delivering for the country and the more people as we’ve seen at this conference – we’ve had record attendance I think at this conference. Lots of energy, lots of engagement.’

Yesterday Mr Farage said he would not be a member of a party that put the tax rate up to the highest in over 70 years and allowed uncontrolled migration.

Despite Mr Sunak’s apparent openness to a return for Mr Farage, Tory chairman Greg Hands gave the idea short shrift.

‘No, I don’t think I would because I think he’s repeatedly for the last 30 years or more advocated voting for other political parties,’ he said.

‘I think he said he doesn’t want to see the Conservative Party succeed so I don’t think I would.’

Mr Farage said that the Tories would lose the election – a view backed up by a poll today

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