Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has firmly ruled out any form of electoral pact with Reform UK, dismissing suggestions of pre-election “stitch ups” and insisting that her priority is to protect the integrity of her party.
Speaking during a campaign visit in Warwickshire on Friday, Badenoch stressed that the Tories would not enter into any deals with Nigel Farage’s party, despite Reform’s consistent showing ahead of the Conservatives in several opinion polls.
“We are not doing a deal with Reform, there’s not going to be a pact,” she told reporters. “What we need to do right now is focus on ensuring that voters have a credible Conservative offer.”
Badenoch added that the focus must remain on the electorate and not behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring. “When we start talking about stitch ups before an election, it sounds as if we’re not thinking about the people out there – just about how we win,” she said.
“Winning is just the first step. We need to talk about how we’re going to deliver for the people of this country. That’s why I’m travelling all over the UK now, making sure people understand what the Conservative offer is – especially for next week’s local government elections, which are not an opinion poll, but about who’s going to run services.”
Her remarks come just days after audio emerged of shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick stating his desire to unite the “fight” against Labour and form a “coalition” to that end. A source close to Jenrick later clarified that he had been referring to voters, not political parties.
Nonetheless, speculation has mounted in recent weeks over whether the Conservatives might consider a tactical understanding with Reform in a bid to avoid splitting the right-wing vote and handing Labour an easier path to victory.
Addressing those suggestions directly in a separate interview with the PA news agency, Badenoch was unequivocal: “Reform have said their ambition is to destroy the Conservative Party. I’m the custodian of the Conservative Party. We’ve been around for a long time. We’ve had our ups and downs, but my job is not to give the party away, but to make sure we’re delivering for the British public.”
She continued: “When you start hearing about coalitions before any votes have been cast, the public hear stitch ups – people just organising to try and win, rather than doing what is right for local people.”
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Next Thursday’s local elections in England are being closely watched as an early litmus test of public opinion ahead of the general election expected later this year. Many of the seats being contested were last fought in May 2021, at the height of the Conservatives’ popularity under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, fuelled by the success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
But with opinion polls now painting a much more challenging picture for the party, Badenoch admitted that the coming vote will not be easy. “The polls will be challenging,” she said. “We are fighting very hard for every vote.”
She also issued a stark reminder to voters: “We have to remind people that these elections are not an opinion poll – you will have to live with what you vote for for four years.”
Badenoch’s firm stance appears aimed at steadying the party’s core support, reinforcing her leadership credentials amid growing questions about strategy, and drawing a clear distinction between the Conservatives and Reform UK as both parties vie for dominance on the political right.
