Nigel Farage, centre, introducing some of his 600 candidates yesterday with Richard Tice, centre left, chairman of the Brexit Party and MEP for Eastern England

Boris Johnson has tried to shut down concerns that the transition period after Brexit could be extended beyond next year as Nigel Farage accused the Tories of “conceited arrogance”.

The Brexit Party leader said he would push ahead with his plan to field more than 600 candidates in the election because he had “given up” hope of a pact with the Tories. Mr Farage criticised Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, for suggesting that the Brexit Party should stand aside to ensure a Tory majority and push Mr Johnson’s deal through the Commons. Accused of splitting the Leave vote, he dismissed Tory Brexiteers as “good little boys”.

The Brexit Party offered to form an alliance with the Tories if Mr Johnson was willing to