Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been urged to "make a deal" with the Conservative Party ahead of the General Election, as the Tories are expected to face "electoral wipeout" at this week's ballot.
In the most recent polls, Farage's party has soared in popularity and he currently places just two per cent behind the Tories at 18 per cent.
Speaking to GB News, former Editor of The Sun Kelvin MacKenzie predicted that Farage could become "leader of the Conservatives by Christmas" if Reform win their projected 18 seats at the July 4 election.
Noting the "bad blood" between the Conservative MPs, specifically Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, MacKenzie also suggested that if Farage does not wade in to the Tory Party, Bandenoch would be the top pick to replace him.
Nigel Farage is currently two points behind the Conservatives in the latest YouGov polling, with other polling predicting the party could secure 18 seats at the election
PA
MacKenzie told GB News host Ben Leo: "Regrettably Rishi is a very clever man, but a very poor leader. He's made some phenomenal mistakes - as long as he lives, Normandy will live with him.
"I was speaking to one of Badenoch's advisers, and she suggested there is some bad blood between them. I think she's number one, and I think she's almost going to get a coronation rather than a competition."
Turning the discussion to Nigel Farage, MacKenzie claimed that the Reform leader is "winning left, right and centre".
Sharing optimism for the party in the election, MacKenzie revealed: "I expect him now to do vaguely better than the polls suggest.
The Reform UK leader is predicted to secure 18 seats at the election
PA
"It's obvious, if he gets 18 seats, he'll be the leader of the Conservative Party, probably by Christmas."
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Ben then highlighted Farage's recent interview with Sky News in which he was asked about taking over the Conservatives, to which he admitted they are "ghastly" and he wants "nothing to do with them".
MacKenzie responded: "I say to him, if you get 18 seats, do a deal with the Tories and take it over.
"I'm not talking about him being deputy leader or being shadow Home Secretary or Shadow Chancellor. I'm saying you become the leader."
When asked by Ben if he believes Farage "needs the Conservative brand" despite remaining strong on the Reform election campaign, MacKenzie noted that he "doesn't have enough time to", but he could have "his child" take over the party.
Kelvin MacKenzie predicts Nigel Farage could be 'leader by Christmas' if he takes up a deal with the Conservatives
GB News
MacKenzie explained: "He needs that brand, he can't he can't build something himself. I say he hasn't got enough time.
"And it would have to be his son or his grandson, like Le Pen in France."
In defence of Farage, Ben claimed "no one" in his family would want to "put up with" the kind of "hate" Farage receives as a result of being such a strong political figure.
Ben told MacKenzie: "I'm not sure if they want to get involved, but the flak that Nigel gets - I've been following and speaking to Nigel since maybe 2015 when he was running with UKIP.
"I went with him on a few speeches to town halls and local pubs. The abuse he got from the far left, I'm not sure anyone would want to put up with that."