Thread by @lewis_goodall

Farage: “I read the Withdrawal Treaty. And I came to the conclusion it just wasn’t Brexit.”

Farage: two aspects of it he didn’t like- “It just didn’t get Brexit done. All these documents do is it just takes us into a set of agonising negotiations...but area that worried me most was extent to which we were committing ourselves to regulatory alignment.”

Farage: “If we do field 600 candidates there will be a hung parliament.”

Farage: “the effect of our standing would be a large number of Lib Dem gains.”

You know what’s coming...

Farage: “I’ve tried to build a Leave alliance. I’ve genuinely tried to put about the idea that putting country before party is the right thing to do. That has come to nought.”

Farage says Johnson has said he will go for Canada Plus trade deal with no extension to transition which has made him feel at greater ease...

Farage: “last night I weighed up Boris’ promise against the threat that we let in a lot of letting in Lib Dems”

HERE IT IS:

Brexit Party will not contest the 317 Tory seats.

Will only stand in Labour seats and other remainer parties.

This is big.

BUT

It might be helpful for incumbent Tories

But if they stand in all Labour seats, the Tory targets, they could still prevent Tories from winning. For example, Bishop Auckland, just down the road. Or Hartlepool, where we are.

Big question now is whether Farage stand aside in Tory targets. That’s much bigger headache for the Conservatives.

And does the remain alliance respond to this?

Farage has left without taking questions to applause from supporters.

But this is a retreat. And not one of high necessarily makes the Tories’ lives that much easier.