Annunziata Rees-Mogg, the sister of Jacob Rees-Mogg, has been unveiled by Nigel Farage as a Brexit Party candidate for the upcoming European elections.
She had been a long-time member of the Tory party and stood in the 2010 general election, but fell short of snatching Somerton and Frome from the Lib Dems.
Speaking in Coventry at the launch of the new party on Friday morning, Annunziata Rees-Mogg said “democracy has been so betrayed” she felt she had to join Farage.
“I joined the Conservative Party in 1984 and this is not a decision I have made lightly – to leave a party for which I have fought at every election since 1987, from Maggie Thatcher through to Theresa May,” the 40-year-old said.
“I know which one I’d rather have representing us now.”
Speaking at the event, Farage said he had placed a £1,000 bet that the Brexit Party would win the European elections at odds of three to one.
And he said he would field the “most impressive list of candidates any political party has ever put before the British public in history”.
“I do believe that we can win these European elections and that we can again start to put the fear of God into our Members of Parliament in Westminster. They deserve nothing less than that after the way they’ve treated us over this betrayal,” he said.
“It’s about democracy. Our democratic decision is being wilfully overturned. I genuinely believe right now, this nation, we are lions led by donkeys.”
The former Ukip leader said he was “angry” at how Brexit had been handled and called for a “democratic revolution”.
Responding to the Brexit Party launch in a tweet, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock said: “You preach fear, hatred and division, Nigel. But the vast majority of the British people are crying out for a politics of hope, respect and community. We will face you down, and we will defeat you. Bring it.”
And Labour MP Jess Phillips hit back at Farage for his “fear of God” comment.
“You cannot scare me, you shouldn’t try, why don’t you try to build rather than break, it’s harder, takes more time and intelligence granted, anyone can play fear peddling villain it’s politics paint by numbers. Put away your finger paints, pick up a pen,” she said.
Downing Street is still hoping they can get Brexit a deal through parliament in time to avoid the need for Britain to vote in elections to the European Parliament on May 23.
Cross-party negotiations to try to break the Brexit deadlock were continuing in Whitehall on Friday, as Parliament began its delayed Easter holiday.
Theresa May’s effective deputy David Lidington and Environment Secretary Michael Gove were taking part in the talks for the Government side, while shadow chancellor John McDonnell was representing Labour.
The Prime Minister made clear on Thursday she intends to bring her Brexit deal back to the Commons for a fourth time after EU leaders agreed to extend the Article 50 withdrawal process to October 31.