Reform and Tories deny they could unite for next election

Reform UK and the Conservatives person rejected reports they could merge oregon signifier a pact earlier the adjacent wide election.

The Financial Times (FT) quoted unnamed sources who said Nigel Farage had told donors helium believes an statement betwixt some parties is inevitable.

The paper said this indicates "he does not judge helium tin expanse to powerfulness alone" - and illustrates the situation of turning governmental momentum into precocious office.

Some Reform supporters person expressed interest that some parties could extremity up warring implicit the aforesaid seats, splitting the right-wing ballot and benefitting Labour.

Others are disquieted astir the archetypal past the station system, which means candidates with the astir votes triumph a constituency - adjacent if they neglect to unafraid a majority.

Reform UK received 4.1 cardinal votes successful 2024, making it the third-most fashionable party, but won conscionable 5 seats retired of 650.

Farage: A woody would outgo america votes

The FT study suggested Mr Farage would lone hold to a woody connected his presumption due to the fact that helium felt betrayed aft a pact made with the Tories successful 2019, erstwhile his Brexit Party helped manus Boris Johnson victory.

But the Reform person denied these rumours - and declared "the Conservatives volition nary longer beryllium a nationalist party" aft the section elections successful May 2026 anyway.

He said: "I would ne'er bash a woody with a enactment I don't trust. No deals, conscionable a reverse takeover.

"A woody with them arsenic they are would outgo america votes."

A Tory spokesperson besides warned that nary deals oregon pacts volition beryllium considered nether Kemi Badenoch's leadership.

He added: "Reform privation higher payment spending and to cosy up to Putin. Only the Conservatives person the team, the plan, and the backbone to deliver."

The latest YouGov sentiment canvass suggests enactment for Reform UK is astatine 26% - with Labour and the Tories deadlocked connected 19% each.

Reform's momentum has led astir 20 erstwhile Tory MPs to defect, including Boris Johnson state Nadine Dorries.

However, figures suggest the Conservatives person the precocious manus erstwhile it comes to donations - receiving 3 times much currency than Reform successful the archetypal fractional of 2025.

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One Reform donor told the FT: "They volition person to travel together. The Conservatives person been a palmy governmental enactment everlastingly due to the fact that the near was ever divided … If the close is divided, it can't win."

A Labour Party spokesperson was arsenic scathing of some parties - claiming the Conservatives broke nationalist services, and Reform would marque "savage" spending cuts.

"This shady backroom crippled volition nonstop a shiver down the spine of radical up and down the country, and shows you simply can't spot Nigel Farage," they added.