Nigel Farage lays out conditions for pact with Boris Johnson before revealing if Brexit Party will stand against Tories

Brexit Party demands that PM ditches EU deal as leader mulls whether to back Conservatives during campaign

Nigel Farage is set to reveal whether his party will field candidates against Conservative MPs at the general election, as he offered to support Boris Johnson if the prime minister abandons his “dreadful” Brexit deal.

In a move that could have a major bearing on the outcome of the election, the Brexit Party leader will announce his party’s strategy at an event in Westminster on Friday amid speculation that it could stand aside in areas represented by Eurosceptic Tory MPs.

Reports suggest that some senior figures in the Brexit Party are “fighting hard” to persuade Mr Farage to field as few as 20 candidates and focus the party’s efforts on unseating Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas.

On Thursday, Mr Farage said he would be "right behind” Mr Johnson if the prime minister ditched his exit plan and instead opted for a no-deal Brexit.

But speaking while interviewing Donald Trump for LBC radio, he hinted that he would not support the Tories unless this condition was met.

He was responding to the US president urging him to “get together” with Mr Johnson and saying: “I know that you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific if you and he get together as an unstoppable force."

Mr Farage replied: “I tell you what, if he drops this dreadful deal, fights the general election on the basis that we want to just have a trade Europe but no political interference, do you know what? I’d be right behind him and let’s hope he gets to that position.”

The Brexit Party leader had earlier refused to be drawn on the reports that he could stand down most of his party’s candidates, saying merely: "This is idle speculation.

"I have not spoken to anyone of any seniority in the party [about this]."

Amid confusion over the party’s approach, its parliamentary candidates were sent a message saying: “Message from HQ…important. Please go dark on social media. Do not respond to any questions about whether we are standing, what the strategy or plan is from now. Things will be made clear very soon.”

Mr Farage had previously offered Mr Johnson an electoral pact if the prime minister opted for a no-deal Brexit, but his advances were rebuffed.

Senior Tories fear that the Brexit Party could deprive the Conservatives of the vital votes it needs to win a majority.

A key strand of the Tories’ campaign will focus on winning back voters from the Brexit Party, especially in Leave-voting areas, where the Conservatives need to retain their current seats and makes gains from Labour.

The Brexit Party agreeing not to field candidates would be a major boost for Mr Johnson.

However, even targetting Leave constituencies currently held by Labour would risk splitting the pro-Brexit vote in these areas and helping Jeremy Corbyn’s party retain the seats.

As part of attempts to neutralise the risk that the Brexit Party poses to their hopes of winning a majority, senior Tories claimed the Conservatives under Mr Johnson’s leadership were the real party of Brexit.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith told The Times: “We are the Brexit Party now because there is no other space for us to occupy. Every candidate standing will accept that our job and duty first and foremost is to deliver Brexit. After that all the other domestic policy issues are back in the mix.”