Could Nigel Farage really end up leading the Tory party?

George Osborne has reignited speculation that the former Ukip chief could rejoin the Conservative Party and become its leader. Sean O’Grady weighs the likelihood of a new Brexit Tory takeover

Delegates at the Tory conference pose with Nigel Farage in Manchester (AFP via Getty Images)

Former Conservative chancellor and election strategist George Osborne is the latest – and most authoritative – figure to suggest that Nigel Farage could become Tory leader.

“He’s a sort of Pied Piper character and is leading the Tory party to his merry tune – again,” said Osborne. “You’d have thought they would have learnt their lesson.

“If Nigel Farage was given membership of the Conservative Party... then you have opened the door to Farageism inside the Tory party, not led by his proxies but by Farage himself.”