Farage claims Tories are calling Brexit Party candidates pleading with them not to stand: ‘Disgraceful abuse’

Nigel Farage has accused Conservatives of trying to terrify his Brexit Party candidates into standing down in Labour-held seats ahead of today’s deadline.

In an explosive speech, he condemned a campaign to clear the way for Boris Johnson’s party to unite the Leave vote.

“What is going on right now is nothing short of disgraceful,” Mr Farage alleged, speaking in Hull.

“There is a full-scale attempt going on out there, as I speak, to stop men and women freely putting themselves up before the UK electorate.

“You would have thought this was Venezuela – even before Jeremy Corbyn got in.”

Mr Farage said his candidates were “coming under relentless phone calls, emails and abuse and being told they must stand down”.

“That is happening in 21st century Britain and I think that is a complete and utter disgrace.”

He did not name the people behind the abuse, but made clear he believed it was Conservatives, saying: “That’s because they fear us – they fear the Brexit Party having a voice in the House of Commons.

“They fear us getting people into parliament who generally believe in Brexit and who will not go through the lobby and vote for what they don’t believe in.”

Earlier, both the Brexit Party and the Conservatives denied a claim that the Tories had floated a deal to field only “paper candidates” in some seats if Mr Farage’s party put up as few as 40 candidates.

After the humiliation of pulling out of 317 Tory-held constituencies – to prevent a Final Say referendum, Mr Farage said – he has come under pressure to quit in Opposition-held seats as well.

But, he told supporters he was standing firm – and said Mr Johnson would be to blame if Remain-backing candidates won seats as a consequence.

“I'm very worried about the Leave vote being split, very, very worried about these constituencies that have been Labour for decades, where the Conservatives have never won, can never win, and yet they are still putting up a candidate against our candidates who are the challengers to Labour in those seats,” he said.

“It tells me all I need to know about the Conservative Party. All they care about is the party, not getting a Leave majority in Westminster.”

However, Mr Farage’s vow to win over “betrayed Labour voters” was undermined when he appeared to be confused about the part of the north he was visiting.

Apprentice star Michelle Dewberry was unveiled as his candidate in the Hull West seat, held by Labour with an 8,000-majority.

But, ahead of the announcement, Mr Farage tweeted he was 60 miles away, saying: “I’m live from South Yorkshire to announce @MichelleDewbs as our fantastic candidate in Hull West.”

Labour’s Louise Haigh was quick to pounce on the gaffe by the Kent-born politician, privately educated in London, saying: “Hull is....not in South Yorkshire.”