Current and former Conservative MPs have been embroiled in a row about how to deal with Reform UK just hours after veteran Tories called on Kemi Badenoch to back an alliance with the populist party.
Badenoch, who is celebrating her 100th day as Leader of the Opposition, swatted away concerns about the threat from Farage.
The North West Essex MP said that she was “not worried” about Farage or the prospect of losing her own seat to Reform at the next election.
However, ex-Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant said: “Assuming Reform doesn’t implode before the next election, which is not impossible knowing the characters involved, though now they smell power they may well be more self-disciplined, they will do well in four years’ time and be part of a Government.”
The North West Essex MP said that she was “not worried” about the prospect of losing her own seat to Reform at the next election
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Ex-Farming Minister Sir Robert Goodwill added: “Farage has an ambition to destroy the Conservative Party.
“There are two ways in which he could do that. From outside, where he currently is, or inside, if we left him in! Neither is acceptable.”
Jill Mortimer, who served as the MP for Hartlepool between 2021 and 2024, also wrote: “To be fair, Robert, we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that ourselves and haven’t needed his [or] anybody’s help – that’s what is not acceptable.”
Current MP Paul Holmes simply cautioned that the Tories should "stop focusing" on Reform UK and "focus on winning ourselves".
However, two former Cabinet Ministers have called for Badenoch to enter an alliance with Reform UK ahead of the 2025 Local Elections.
Ex-Works & Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis called for co-operation.
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Despite Tory turmoil about the threat from Reform UK, Farage today dismissed the suggestion of a pact with the Tories
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Lewis told The Telegraph: “If we want to defeat Labour then the Right has to find a way to come together, and the same logic applies to the locals.
“I just can’t see that being viable at the moment, because Kemi has been so fixated around saying ‘absolutely no way’. But the Right cannot win while it is split. That’s for sure.”
“If you go issue by issue between the Reform MPs and most Conservative MPs, you wouldn’t really see much difference between them,” McVey added.
Despite Tory turmoil about the threat from Reform UK, Farage today dismissed the suggestion of a pact with the Tories.
Speaking at a rally against Labour's inheritance tax raid on farmers, the Reform UK leader said: “To do a pact with people, you’ve got to think, I’m going to shake your hand and you’re an honourable person.
“After the betrayal post the 2019 election, we do not believe them to be honourable. Simple as that, so the answer is no.”
Kemi Badenoch
PAReform UK marked another membership milestone yesterday, with more than 200,000 Britons now being paid-up members.
The figure is markedly higher than the 134,000 Tory members and closing in on the 309,000 members signed up to the Labour Party.
Despite Badenoch celebrating her 100th day as Conservative Party leader, the North West Essex MP was dealt a polling blow.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that the Tory leader is not considered a Prime Minister in waiting.
It revealed that just 14 per cent of Britons believe Badenoch looks like she can enter No10, with 55 per cent suggesting the North West Essex MP does not have what it takes to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
A staggering plurality of Tory voters, 48 per cent, do not have faith in Badenoch.
The figure is markedly higher among Reform UK, Liberal Democrat and Labour voters.
Opinion polls appear to suggest that Reform UK could supplant the Tories as the main political party on the right.
Opinium’s latest survey puts Reform UK just one-point behind Labour on 26 per cent, with the Tories languishing in a distant third-place on just 22 per cent.
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