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Nigel Farage has nicknamed Kemi Badenoch “Santa Claus” because she gives Reform UK “a Christmas gift every day”, according to reports. The sobriquet for the Conservative leader is said to be widely used within Reform headquarters.

It has prompted staff to mock up an image, generated by artificial intelligence, showing Mrs Badenoch dressed as Father Christmas as she sleeps by a fireplace. A Reform UK source told The Telegraph: “Kemi is simply referred to as Santa Claus within HQ because with her in charge of the Tories, it’s Christmas every day for us. Nigel started using the nickname a few weeks ago, and everyone has just followed.”

Mrs Badenoch’s spokesman declined to comment, while a Tory source branded the image as “juvenile”.

It comes as Reform is surging ahead of the Conservatives and Labour in national opinion polls.

Last week, Danny Kruger became the first sitting Tory MP to defect to the insurgent party in a blow to Mrs Badenoch.

The East Wiltshire MP declared that his former party was “over” as he announced the switch at a press conference alongside Mr Farage.

Mr Kruger will head up Reform’s efforts to prepare for Government.

Mrs Badenoch acknowledged her party was enduring a “rough and bumpy time” following the defection.