UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggests local coalitions with Reform UK could be possible after council elections, but rejects a national alliance.
As reported by Sky News, Kemi Badenoch leaves the door open for local partnerships with Reform after the council elections on 1 May.
What did Kemi Badenoch say about potential local coalitions with Reform?
In an interview with Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Ms Badenoch made it clear that a national alliance with Nigel Farage‘s party is not on the table.
She said,
“I am not going into any coalition with Nigel Farage… read my lips.”
Ms Badenoch suggested local deals with Reform could be possible, stating that where councils lack overall control, “you have to do what is right for your local area.”
She stated,
“You look at the moment, we are in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with independents. We’ve been in coalition with Labour before at the local government level. They [councillors] have to look at who the people are that they’re going into coalition with and see how they can deliver for local people.”
Tories leader said,
“What I don’t want to hear is talks of stitch-ups or people planning things before the results are out. They have to do what is right for their communities.”
What did Robert Jenrick say about the potential Tory-Reform coalition?
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, was recorded in a leaked video pledging to “unite this coalition” to ensure that the Conservatives and Reform UK no longer compete for votes ahead of the next election.
In an exclusive audio recording, Mr Jenrick, who lost the Tory leadership race to Ms Badenoch, stated he would make every effort “one way or another” to stop the Conservatives and Reform UK from splitting votes and allowing Sir Keir Starmer a second term.
The Shadow Justice Secretary dismissed claims that his remarks suggested a potential alliance with Reform UK.
He stated,
“I’ve said time and again that I want to put Reform out of business … I want to send Nigel Farage back to retirement.”
What did Nigel Farage say about Robert Jenrick’s comments?
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage responded,
“I mean he’s clearly shaping himself up to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. He doesn’t care what internal division he causes within the Parliamentary Party.”
He added,
“But he’s mistaken. We are not going to do a deal with a Conservative Party that gave us record tax levels since the war, mass migration, I mean I could go on.”
What did Ben Houchen say about a potential alliance between Reform and the Conservative Party?
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, called for a potential collaboration between the two parties.
He said,
“I don’t know what it looks like. I don’t know whether it’s a pact. I don’t know whether it’s a merger … [or] a pact of trust and confidence or whatever.”
Mr Houchen added,
“But if we want to make sure that there is a sensible centre-right party leading this country, then there is going to have to be a coming together of Reform and the Conservative Party in some way.”
Pat McFadden’s views on Labour’s stance on post-election deals
Pat McFadden, serving as Labour’s Cabinet Office minister, admitted he is not expecting significant gains for Labour in Thursday’s elections.
He said,
“The deals on offer after Thursday won’t be between Labour and the Tories and Labour and Reform.”
Mr McFadden added,
“But what there’s been a lot of debate about is what’s going to happen between the Tories and Reform, because I’m not even sure if they’re two different parties or one party at the moment.”
May 1 local elections
Voters are set to cast their ballots for 23 councils on 1 May, mostly in regions that were traditionally Tory territories until the last general election.
The elections cover 14 county councils, where Conservatives have historically dominated all but two, and eight unitary bodies, nearly all of which are Tory-led.