Brexit Party standing against Conservatives would be 'massive own goal', warns Tory Brexiteer after by-election defeat

But Brexit Party dismisses suggestion as 'ridiculous' and claims Boris Johnson has 'never been trusted'

The Brexit Party fielding candidates against the Conservatives would be a "massive own goal", a former Tory minister has warned.

Steve Baker, a vocal Eurosceptic who served as a Brexit minister under Theresa May, suggested that Nigel Farage's party should agree not to stand against the Tories.

The Brexit Party immediately dismissed the idea, suggesting Boris Johnson could not be trusted to deliver Brexit because he was someone who "nobody has ever trusted in his entire career".

Mr Baker spoke out in the wake of the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, which saw Tory MP Chris Davies, who had been convicted of false expenses, losing his seat to the Liberal Democrats by a margin of 1,425 votes.

The Brexit Party picked up 3,331 votes, effectively costing the Conservatives the seat.

Following the result, Mr Baker wrote on Twitter: "It is becoming obvious to all now that the Brexit Party standing against the Conservative Party would produce a massive own goal."

His comment is likely to refer to fears that the Brexit Party will split the anti-EU vote, costing the Conservatives seats and boosting parties, namely Labour and the Liberal Democrats, that want a softer form of Brexit or no Brexit at all.

The Brexit Party is in the middle of unveiling its candidates for the 650 Westminster parliamentary seats. It announced 50 names on Friday and is expected to release 100 more next week.

A Brexit Party spokesperson dismissed Mr Baker's comments, calling them "ridiculous".

They said: "Of course he’d say that. I’m sure that he’d like the Labour Party not to stand against the Tories, the Lib Dems not to stand against the Tories, or anybody to stand against the Tories. What a ridiculous thing to say.

"While we have a government led by somebody nobody has ever trusted in his entire career, why should we trust the Tories? Why should anyone in the country trust the Tories?"

He added: "What last night showed very clearly is that unless [Tory Brexiteers] ensure that the Conservative Party delivers, they will no longer be the party of government. I know that’s an uncomfortable position to be in but if they think we’re going to take our foot off the accelerator or off the Tories' necks, they’ve got another think coming."