Ukip leader says still a ‘conversation’ going on with a Conservative, as polls suggest support for his party is slipping

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

There is still a chance that another Tory MP could defect to Ukip before the general election, Nigel Farage has suggested.

Farage said there was still “one conversation” going on with a Conservative about switching sides.

Unlike Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless – who both triggered and won byelections – the defecting MP would be almost certain to hold on to their seat until it came up for grabs in the nationwide ballot.

Asked in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph whether he was in discussions with any Tory MPs, the Ukip leader said: “The last time I spoke about this I said I would be surprised if there were not more.

“There is one conversation we are still having. But do you know what – it is not very relevant now. Last year it was a big deal.”

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A further defection before 7 May could cause major disruption to David Cameron’s party. It could also help restore momentum to Ukip following a series of polls suggesting its support is slipping and Farage’s admission that he used a party conference speech to deny rumours of serious ill health after party donors had raised their concerns with him.