Top Tory bizarrely includes photo of Reform UK's Nigel Farage on election campaign leaflet

In an unusual twist for a re-election campaign, Conservative candidate Andrea Jenkyns has prominently featured Nigel Farage, the leader of the rival Reform UK party, on her latest campaign leaflet.

The leaflet, which conspicuously lacks any clear references to the Conservative Party, showcases several photos of Jenkyns alongside Farage.

Jenkyns, the Tory candidate for Morley and Outwood and a known Eurosceptic, has previously expressed her admiration for Farage, calling him "a true patriot, conservative to the core."

The leaflet features two images of them together, including a selfie taken at Farage's 60th birthday party, with Jenkyns dressed in a glittery outfit. Richard Tice, the former leader of Reform UK, also appears in the background of one of the photos.

Farage's Reform UK is considered one of the main electoral threats to the Conservative Party, making Jenkyns' choice to include his image on her leaflet particularly controversial.

The move is likely to raise eyebrows at the Conservative head office, as Reform UK poses a significant challenge to the Tories in the upcoming election.

Jenkyns' leaflet has sparked discussions about the strategic alignment between different factions within the conservative movement.

Notably, the leaflet lacks any mention of Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak, instead highlighting Jenkyns' connections with other prominent figures on the right.

The Conservative candidate has criticised Reform UK's decision to stand in her constituency, arguing that it could lead to "dozens of genuine conservatives" being "replaced by Starmer's Socialists."

This latest leaflet appears to be an attempt to bridge the gap between the Conservative Party and the wider conservative movement.

A spokesperson for Jenkyns commented on the leaflet's content, saying: "Andrea is above all, a patriot. She fought for Brexit alongside politicians from all parties including Labour and Reform and is proud of being able to transcend party politics and put the country first. She finds it regrettable that party leaders have not been able to see the bigger picture in uniting the right to stop a socialist supermajority.

"After the election, Conservative MPs will need to work with a wider conservative movement to achieve their goals, and Andrea is one of the best-placed genuine conservatives in her party to help facilitate this. For the avoidance of any doubt, Andrea is a lifelong conservative and is standing for the Conservative Party in the forthcoming election. She is committed to promoting low-tax, common-sense conservatism."

As the election on July 4 approaches, Jenkyns' unconventional campaign strategy will undoubtedly be watched closely, both by her supporters and her critics within the Conservative Party.