Nigel Farage is prepared to do a deal with the Conservatives after the next election if that is what it takes to keep Labour out of power, according to Lord Ashcroft, author of a new biography of the Reform UK leader. The former Tory deputy chairman, who has written a series of biographies of influential UK politicians, said he is now “more certain than ever” that Farage would agree to an arrangement with the Tories should it become necessary.
No Pre-Election Pact Expected
Lord Ashcroft does not foresee any formal alliance before the election. “I think any kind of pact before the election is extremely unlikely and probably unwise,” he said. “My polling shows some of each party’s voters would be put off by it, especially on the Tory side.” However, he added: “After the election, if it’s a choice between some kind of deal or another Labour term, I’m sure both parties would find it hard to resist. But that’s for the leaders to decide.”
Reform UK’s Long-Term Ambitions
Lord Ashcroft’s latest work, The Farage Factor: Reform UK and the Remaking of British Politics, follows biographies of Kemi Badenoch, Angela Rayner and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. He stressed the determination within Reform UK to build a lasting political force. “I think Nigel is serious about being prime minister,” he said. “While working on the book, it was clear to me that those within Reform UK want to build a party that will last long into the future. That’s a difficult thing to do but they seem pretty determined to do it.”
Faith and Defectors
Reform UK has attracted figures such as former Conservative MP Danny Kruger and Cambridge academic James Orr, who are devout Christians. However, Lord Ashcroft does not believe Farage shares their depth of faith. “Nigel’s got a quiet faith but he’s very relaxed about politicians being religious. He personally is not particularly religious, as far as I know.” On defections from the Tories, which have included former cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, Lord Ashcroft suggested the flow may have stopped. “Robert Jenrick had clearly felt for some time that he wasn’t happy in the Conservative Party so his defection wasn’t a surprise. I’ve heard that some in Reform are not happy that so many ex-Tories now sit as Reform MPs. I’m not sure there will be any more joining.”
Choosing Between Tories and Reform
Asked whether he would join the Conservatives or Reform today as a young man, Lord Ashcroft said: “I’ve been drawn to Kemi’s principled, straight-talking approach and I think that would be the same however young I was. But I can see why people are looking for an alternative like Reform and why they feel let down by the established parties. Her challenge is to show that the Tories have changed more than just their leader.”
Farage’s Policy Dilemmas
Commenting on Farage’s decision to back the two-child benefits cap, Lord Ashcroft said: “I think the state of the public finances left him with little choice. He said he originally wanted to scrap it not for populist reasons but because he wanted to encourage British people to have families because the birth rate is so low. But that tension between appealing to Red Wall voters and former Tories will throw up more dilemmas like that. The potential rise of Restore Britain will be another challenge for him.”
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Lord Ashcroft, who has enjoyed influence through philanthropy and business, offered advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “If their aim is to own a five-star hotel, they will almost certainly have to own several one, two, three and four-star hotels to achieve their goal. Rome wasn't built in a day. One of their biggest challenges will be how they deal with their own mistakes and those of others to minimise the harmful effects on their young business.”
