TORONTO -- Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage could be a kind of kingmaker after the U.K.鈥檚 historic election Thursday, even though he recently announced he will .
Polls suggest British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could win a , for which Farage could be given both blame and thanks.
Last month, Farage announced he wouldn鈥檛 run any candidates in more than 300 ridings with Conservative incumbents, paving the way for a Tory win.
The former leader of the U.K. Independence Party, Farage was a key figure in the country鈥檚 elections to the European Parliament and the Brexit movement from the beginning. In an interview with 麻豆传媒 this month, Farage said his influence continues to 鈥渟hift the agenda.鈥�
鈥淲e have dragged the Conservative party kicking and screaming back towards the Brexit direction,鈥� he told CTV's London bureau chief Paul Workman. 鈥淲e鈥檝e now got a prime minister who virtually mimics every word I say.鈥�
Instead of running candidates in hundreds of Conservative ridings, the Brexit Party is campaigning in staunch Labour Party ridings only. In Yorkshire county, where 70 per cent voted in favour of Brexit in 2016, Farage鈥檚 party stands a good chance Thursday.
鈥淚 agree with everything he says. He鈥檚 the only man that speaks truth,鈥� said resident Sharon Gillis in an interview with CTVNews.
But Farage, who has run for parliament seven times and lost seven times, won鈥檛 run again this election. He also says he rejected offers of Conservative seats over the years and other official U.K. ranks.
鈥淚 said 鈥楴o. I鈥檓 not for sale,鈥欌�� he told CTV. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 ask for anything. There were various suggestions that I should be offered this and offered that.鈥�
With a report from CTV's London bureau chief Paul Workman.
