Banks is ‘damn close’ in mayor race, says Farage

REFORM UK leader Nigel Farage has urged West of England residents to vote for the party's metro mayor candidate Arron Banks as the only way to beat the “loony left”.

- ADAM POSTANS

The MP for Clacton led a media call among party faithful at Mr Banks's country park tourist attraction Old Down Estate in Tockington, near Thornbury, yesterday, two days before polling day for the new West of England mayor.

Reform is targeting traditional Conservative voters in a race that election forecasters say is too tight to call, with the winner likely to need only about a quarter of the overall vote.

Addressing dozens of supporters, Mr Farage said: “If you look at the polling, the Greens are in the lead but with Arron only four points behind with two days to go. This would be the most dramatic electoral upset if Banksy wins Bristol.

“We need traditional Conservative voters, particularly here in South Gloucestershire, to recognise that only Banks can beat the loony left.

“So my message to Conservative voters or Conservative-minded voters is if you want someone to be elected to beat the Greens, to beat the madness, do lend your vote to Arron Banks, and boy, wouldn't it be a different conversation in this part of the world.