Nigel Farage Reveals How Ukip Could Do Deal With The Tories

This Is How Ukip Would Do A Deal With The Tories
PA

Nigel Farage has outlined his terms of a potential deal to prop up a Conservative government, declaring an EU referendum would have to be held this year.

The Ukip leader issued David Cameron with a four-point ultimatum on Britain's position in Europe in an extract of his memoirs published by the Sunday Telegraph, suggesting a referendum takes "few weeks" to organise.

And he said he would bar EU citizens who do not hold a British passport from voting, even though that would include his German wife, Kirsten, and could lead to a legal challenge.

But the Ukip parliamentary candidate for South Thanet reiterated that his party would not enter a formal coalition with the Tories and he was not interested in a "ministerial car".

Mr Farage said: "I would look to do a deal where we would back key votes for them - such as the Budget - but in return for very specific criteria on an EU referendum.

"The terms of my deal with the Tories would be very precise and simple. I want a full and fair referendum to be held in 2015 to allow Britons to vote on being in or out of the European Union. There would be no wiggle room for 'renegotiation' somewhere down the line'.

"The EU is facing an existential crisis and, given that it only takes a few weeks to launch and organise a referendum, it should be held in 2015.

"It is my strong belief that the four million EU citizens living in the UK without British passports should not be allowed to do so (vote). And yes, that includes my German wife. They are eligible to vote in European elections, but they should not have the right to decide on Britain's future in the EU. It may be that that would require us to do battle with the European Court of Justice - but so be it."

Mr Farage added the wording of the question "matters hugely", he wanted spending limits on campaigning to avoid any "shenanigans" and an ombudsman should be established to monitor media coverage.

While he admitted "a vast number of them (Tories) hate us and I dislike them", he said he could work with Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove.

The Prime Minister has promised the British people a vote on whether to sever ties with Brussels by the end of 2017 if he remains in No 10 after the general election.

He is under pressure from sections of the Tory party to hold an earlier vote, and the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, John Longworth, has called for a referendum within a year of May's election in order to resolve the issue.

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