Nigel Farage has said Reform UK is becoming a “brand new Conservative movement” and attacked a “lack of debate” between the two main parties.

Speaking in Kent, Mr Farage said there was “no difference” between Labour and the Conservatives over immigration policy.

He defended describing people coming to the UK across the Channel on small boats as an “invasion” saying that the numbers were like a “slow motion D-Day in reverse”.

He also expressed concern that the UK was moving towards a “sectarian politics with women completely excluded”.

The Brexit campaigner said he was “proud” of the UK’s record on integration but expressed concern that there was a “growing number of young men” adopting radical views that are “extremely anti-British”.

He denied he was Islamophobic saying: “The most worried group about what is going on with this new form of British sectarianism are British Muslims.

“Paying their taxes, working, wanting their kids to do well – they will be worst affected by this current unpleasant trend.”

Reform UK – previously known as the Brexit Party – has said it will stand in 630 seats out of a possible 650 across the country.

Mr Farage has ruled out standing as a candidate and hinted that he wants to focus on helping his friend Donald Trump in his bit to win the US presidential election.

However, he has said he still wants to support the party he helped set up and on Tuesday morning gave a speech in Dover, in which he launched a fierce attack on the Conservatives and Labour.

Asked if he was trying to destroy the Conservatives, he replied: “They have destroyed themselves.

“Is there a Conservative Party? I haven’t spotted it – all I can see is two big social democratic parties.”

He added that the election had got off to the “dullest start” he could remember.

The party’s honorary president acknowledged Reform UK was “not very well-funded” but said it was offering a “distinct” message.

Speaking earlier in the day, minister Mel Stride said a vote for Reform was a “vote to give Keir Starmer the keys to No 10”.

On Monday, Lucy Allan, who is standing down as a Conservative MP, urged voters in her former constituency of Telford to back the Reform candidate.