Nigel Farage has suggested Reform UK could take over the Tories if they are annihilated at the next general election.
The former Ukip leader, who is mulling a comeback, said if the rebranded Brexit Party does well and the Conservatives suffer a drubbing then “something very big is coming afterwards”.
He pointed to the example of Canadian politics in the 1990s when a new party called Reform replaced the Progressive Conservative Party after an election defeat, before later merging with them.
He told Unhevrd: “If Reform do well and get a lot of votes and a reasonable representation of seats — and the Tories do very badly — then something very big is coming afterwards.
“Reform basically reverse took over the Conservatives and Stephen Harper became Prime Minister. If there was a model, it’s Canada. If it’s doable, I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Reform changed its name to the Canadian Alliance before formally merging with the Progressive Conservative Party.
Stephen Harper, who was one of Reform’s founders, went on to become Canada’s Conservative prime minister between 2006 and 2015.
Mr Farage’s comments come amid ongoing speculation over whether he will return to frontline politics.
In his biggest hint yet, he said there is a “historic opportunity to really change things”.
Mr Farage added: “I edge towards thinking that may be the case.”
But he admitted he is still “very burnt” from 2015 when Ukip secured four million votes in the general election and only one seat.
It comes as the rebranded Brexit Party, of which Mr Farage is honorary president, hit a record 16% in a YouGov poll yesterday.
The survey carried out from March 26 to 27 put the right-wing party just five points behind the Conservatives on 21%.
