The Conservatives have offered an electoral pact to Nigel Farage that would mean the Brexit Party targeting just 40 key seats, The Telegraph can disclose.

Boris Johnson was prepared to put up “paper candidates” in the Labour-held constituencies, meaning the Tories would carry out only minimal campaigning in order to give an advantage to Brexit Party rivals.

However, the deal was turned down by Mr Farage, who had insisted on the Tories withdrawing their candidates altogether from the seats, because he was worried that the Conservative candidates would still attract votes.

Talks finally broke down late on Tuesday but as the deadline for nominations approaches at 4pm on Thursday, Mr Farage remains under intense pressure to make further concessions beyond the 317 candidates he has already stood down from running in seats won by the Tories in 2017.

It comes as an exclusive poll shows the Tories on course for a 110-seat majority as working-class voters flock to the Conservatives in a redrawing of the electoral map based on Leave and Remain sentiments.