Nigel Farage was leading Reform UK’s campaign in the fierce Battle for Essex as he seeks to oust the Tories as the major party on the Right of British politics.
In an exclusive interview with The Standard, he branded Essex as the Conservatives “last stronghold”.
With the May 7 elections for councils, the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament looming, he said: “The truth is the Conservative Party will disappear next week as a National Party.
“They'll be reduced to irrelevancy in Wales, not far behind in Scotland, disappear in the Red Wall completely.
“Essex is the last stronghold.”
He highlighted how many members of the shadow Cabinet had their constituencies in Essex including Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex), shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel (Witham), and shadow communities secretary SirJames Cleverly (Braintree).
The other Essex Tory MPs are shadow transport secretary Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay), shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) and Opposition chief whip Rebecca Harris (Castle Point).
Mr Farage stressed: “The battle between Reform and the Conservatives in Essex over the next days is going to be a very, very big test of who is seen to be the major party on the Centre Right of British politics, to take on Labour, the Greens and the quite rapid Leftward shift.
“So listen, I agree with you, Essex is a key battleground. I am spending a lot of time in Essex in our campaign.”
However, former Home Secretary Sir James hit back at Mr Farage’s claims about the Conservative Party.
He told The Standard: “We are the only party with a serious plan to get Britain working again, fund our armed forces and deliver a stronger economy and stronger country.
“We are getting on with the job of the Opposition: holding this dreadful Labour Government to account and presenting a genuine alternative to voters.”
Sir James, who was also Foreign Secretary, added: “In contrast, Nigel Farage is dividing his energy between trying to destroy the Conservative Party, and trying to justify his mysterious, undeclared £5 million donation from overseas.”
Mr Farage, who has also firmly set Reform sights on winning councils in London, visited Wickford and Billericay, Rayleigh and Southend-on-Sea on Friday.
But Reform faces a major challenge to seize control of Essex County Council, before seeking to oust top Tories at the next general election.
Out of 75 councillors, 49 are Conservative, nine Liberal Democrat and Independent Group, six Labour, one Reform, eight in the the Non-Aligned Group (2 Canvey Island Independent Party, 2 Residents for Uttlesford, 1 Independent Loughton Residents Association, 3 Independents), as well as two vacancies.
A string of Conservatives have defected to Reform including former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick, ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, and dozens of councillors across the country.
Polls suggest that the Greens could make major gains in London, possibly winning hundreds of seats, with Reform also expected to make a breakthrough, particularly in Outer London.
Labour is facing heavy losses and the Conservatives will be seeking to win back the Tory “crown jewels” councils of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet which they lost in 2022, the last time the borough elections were fought.
The Liberal Democrats are trying to become the biggest party on Merton council, in south west London, or possibly even gain overall control of it.
There are also expected to be more pro-Gaza and other independent candidates elected.
