Nigel Farage has told donors he expects a deal or merger between his Reform UK party and the Conservatives before the next general election.

Reform donors told the Financial Times that the leader expected his party to join with or make a deal with the Tories.

One of those who spoke to the FT said Farage had described such an agreement as “inevitable” but that it would take some time because he was wary over making a pact between the two.

But Farage and the Conservative party denied the claims.

“Sometimes people hear what they want to,” Farage told the paper. “After next May the Conservatives will no longer be a national party. I would never do a deal with a party that I do not trust. No deals, just a reverse takeover.”

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Under Kemi Badenoch’s leade

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