Nigel Farage should have been given a place in the House of Lords, according to Cabinet Office minister Esther McVey.
The so-called minister for common sense said the former Ukip leader is “one of the country’s greatest campaigners and politicians”.
The Tatton MP pointed to Mr Farage’s campaigning on Brexit and debanking.
Ms McVey made the comments on GB News in response to a viewer questioning whether Mr Farage will “save or break” the Conservative Party.
She said: “I’m a fan of Nigel Farage. And I said many years ago, I would have liked him to have got a place in the Lords.
“I would have given him a peerage because I think he is one of the country’s greatest campaigners and politicians.
“Look what he did to bring the message of Brexit and see how that transformed [the UK].
“He’s now a great campaigner. Look what’s he doing exposing the banking system and what happened to him there. So I hope he’s a positive force and I’d like him to be, yes, be positive.
“If you’re going to say make or break the Conservative Party, of course, I’d want him to make the Conservative Party. For me, it’s the best party.”
But she said she could not imagine Mr Farage being leader of the Tories.
Ms McVey said: “No, I genuinely can’t and I don’t even know if he really wants to get back into politics, if I’m being honest.”
Her comments come amid intense speculation over whether the former Brexit Party leader will make a political comeback.
Mr Farage, who is currently honorary president of insurgent party Reform UK, yesterday insisted he is not currently seeking to join the Tories.
Speaking at the launch of the new Popular Conservatism movement, he said: “I’m not looking to join the Tory party, you must be joking.
“Not at the moment, given what they stand for.
“And as far as this group’s concerned, I’d rather be part of Reform because that’s the real thing.”
