Farage claims Burnham's Brexit debate boost

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has claimed that Andy Burnham's reopening of the debate on the EU has boosted his career by reviving the debate.

This comes after Farage dismissed polls showing as much as 59% of the public as favouring rejoining the EU, stating that it would cost 25bn quid a year and would mean joining Schengen, an area of Europe that has open borders.

He also suggested that new language on the union might help win back voters from the Greens in big cities.

Farage also hinted that an internal inquiry into the donations controversy would absolve two key aides and possibly launch legal action against journalists involved. The Metropolitan police are currently carrying out a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform broke foreign laws.