Nigel Farage prepares to stand in South Thanet again as he is snapped planning campaign at elite London club
NIGEL FARAGE is preparing to stand in South Thanet to avenge the “monstrous” Tory campaign against him in 2015.
The ex-Ukip boss was snapped plotting his campaign with donors at 5 Hertford Street — one of London’s most expensive and exclusive members clubs.
The elite venue in Mayfair normally boasts celebs and the super rich, but yesterday hosted top Kippers for a secret meeting.
Party leader Paul Nuttall — who has vowed to take on Labour in their working class heartlands — also attended a lunchtime summit at the jet set establishment.
Speaking to The Sun the ex-Ukip chief said: “A bit of me says what happened last time in South Thanet was so monstrous there that they wouldn’t dare try it again, so I think if I did run I would win it.”
Ukip sources said they would be “gobsmacked” if he did not throw his hat in the ring in the Kent seat that is under active police investigation over accusations of massive Tory overspending at 2015 election.
But Mr Farage sounded caution about giving up his “front row seat” in Brussels where Brexit could be “watered down” and said he could have “a bigger impact staying there.”
He said: “If Brexit is vetoed it will be done so in Brussels not Westminster, so is that really the best stage?”
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And he promised to announce his final decision imminently.
Meanwhile Mr Farage warned that old nemesis Douglas Carswell — who quit the party the party last month — would “get massacred” if he stood as an independent in Clacton, Essex.
Insurance tycoon and Farage donor Arron Banks vowed to stand in the seat.
He was in discussions with Ukip to become their official candidate, despite also quitting the party earlier in the year.
Mr Carswell — who defected from the Tories in 2014 — was unavailable for comment, but he had previously hinted he could return to Conservatives at the next election.
However he will face a tough battle to become the official Tory candidate in the seat from 1980s TV star Giles Watling who stood for the party in 2015.