Kemi Badenoch has categorically ruled out any council-level pacts between the Conservative Party and Reform UK, branding Nigel Farage's party as 'not serious.' This comes just a day after she hinted at potential collaboration in an interview with Sky News.
Badenoch's Shift on Reform Collaboration
In an interview with Sky News yesterday, Badenoch suggested she would be open to Conservative councillors working alongside their Reform UK counterparts to advance right-wing policies. However, in a subsequent interview with The Sun published today, she firmly rowed back on that stance.
'No Deals with Reform'
Speaking to The Sun, Badenoch stated unequivocally: 'We're not doing deals with Reform. I don't want to see us helping Reform.' She further criticised the party's credibility, saying: 'A lot of people in Reform are people we kicked out. Conservative councillors don't want to work with Reform because they're not serious.'
This reversal underscores the ongoing tensions between the two right-wing parties, as both vie for influence ahead of local elections. Badenoch's comments aim to distance the Conservatives from Reform UK, which has been gaining traction among disillusioned Tory voters.
