Michael Fabricant on Conservative-UKIP pact and Farage

A Conservative backbencher suggesting a pact with UKIP said Nigel Farage has got "a lot of talent" when asked if the smaller party leader could serve as a minister in a Tory government.

But Michael Fabricant said he had had "absolutely no dealings with UKIP", apart from a "quick spurt of twittering" with the UKIP leader on Sunday evening.

He told Jo Coburn that "we are living in an era of electoral pacts and coalitions nowadays" although he remained "pretty confident" the Conservatives would win a majority at the 2015 general election.

Drawing on a previous quote from Mr Farage of the need of a "cast-iron guarantee signed in blood" on a straight in/out referendum on Europe, the Lichfield MP claimed he would donate a pint of his own blood to start talks.

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