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George Osborne rules out local Conservative/UKIP pacts Nigel Farage says 'couple of dozen' Tory MPs want pact
(about 3 hours later)
George Osborne has ruled out the prospect of Tory election candidates standing on joint tickets with UKIP after Nigel Farage floated the idea. The UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, estimates that "a couple of dozen" Conservative MPs would be interested in an election pact with his party.
The UKIP leader said he would consider non-aggression deals with Eurosceptics from other parties if it was in the interests of local party associations. Mr Farage said he had had "informal discussions with a handful" of Conservative MPs, "no more than that".
Some Conservatives MPs have called for a formal pact, warning that UKIP could take votes away from them. The Conservative MP, Philip Hollobone, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One Mr Farage's estimate was "spot on".
But Mr Osborne said the Conservatives were not interested in "positioning". He added that he was "very fortunate" to have been backed by UKIP at the 2010 general election.
David Cameron and William Hague have already discounted any national arrangement with UKIP in the run-up to the 2015 election, insisting they are fighting to win a Conservative majority. The party's then-leader, Lord Pearson, actively campaigned for Mr Hollobone in his constituency, Kettering.
'Real localism' "UKIP backed my candidacy and that was great," Mr Hollobone said. "There are no legal complications with that and as politicians we are always trying to attract support from wherever we get it."
'Entirely their business'
Mr Hollobone said he had not been involved in any discussions about the 2015 poll.
Asked if the Conservatives would tolerate similar informal arrangements in 2015, the party's chairman Grant Shapps said: "I want every opposing party to support our candidates."
He added: "Conservatives are going to stand in all 650 seats. What other parties do is entirely their business."
Earlier Chancellor George Osborne ruled out the prospect of Tory election candidates standing on joint tickets with UKIP.
UKIP's rise in national opinion polls and recent strong performances at Westminster by-elections have led some Tories to warn a split in the centre-right vote would make it easier for Labour to form the next government.UKIP's rise in national opinion polls and recent strong performances at Westminster by-elections have led some Tories to warn a split in the centre-right vote would make it easier for Labour to form the next government.
Mr Farage, who is speaking at a fringe meeting at the Tory conference later, has ruled out any national pact with the Conservatives while David Cameron is leader. Mr Farage, who is speaking at fringe meetings at the Tory conference, has ruled out any national pact with the Conservatives while David Cameron is leader.
But he has suggested he might not stand in the way of arrangements at a constituency level, either with Conservative or Labour candidates. But he suggested he would not stand in the way of arrangements at a constituency level, either with Conservative or Labour candidates.
"If, after discussions, they feel that it would be better way to serve their constituents, then I and the national executive committee would be happy to hear their reasoning," he told the Times.
"After all, we are a party that believes in real localism and doesn't think that the centre is the repository of all wisdom."
'Talking to the country''Talking to the country'
Tory MP Nadine Dorries has suggested in the past she could run on a joint ticket while backbenchers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Michael Fabricant have argued a formal pact would boost the Tories' electoral prospects.Tory MP Nadine Dorries has suggested in the past she could run on a joint ticket while backbenchers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Michael Fabricant have argued a formal pact would boost the Tories' electoral prospects.
A ComRes survey for BBC One's Sunday Politics suggested 22% of Tory local councillors supported a pact with the UKIP.A ComRes survey for BBC One's Sunday Politics suggested 22% of Tory local councillors supported a pact with the UKIP.
But Mr Osborne said the party should not countenance deals with any other parties.But Mr Osborne said the party should not countenance deals with any other parties.
"The short answer is no," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."The short answer is no," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"What the Conservative Party is doing is talking to the country, in marked contrast to the other political parties who are talking about themselves and positioning themselves.""What the Conservative Party is doing is talking to the country, in marked contrast to the other political parties who are talking about themselves and positioning themselves."
The Conservatives have said only they are offering the public a real choice on Europe, with the promise of a referendum on the UK's re-negotiated membership in 2017.The Conservatives have said only they are offering the public a real choice on Europe, with the promise of a referendum on the UK's re-negotiated membership in 2017.
Senior figures have warned Conservative supporters thinking of voting for UKIP that this could allow Labour - who have ruled out a referendum in the foreseeable future - to win power.Senior figures have warned Conservative supporters thinking of voting for UKIP that this could allow Labour - who have ruled out a referendum in the foreseeable future - to win power.
"We've got a big, simple offer for the country," Mr Osborne added. "The economy is on the right track and we are going to see our plan through.""We've got a big, simple offer for the country," Mr Osborne added. "The economy is on the right track and we are going to see our plan through."