Liberal Democrats have accused Kemi Badenoch of being willing to put Nigel Farage into Number 10 after she hinted she would approve Conservative and Reform UK council pacts. In an interview with Sky News, the Conservative leader suggested she would be happy for Conservative councillors to govern in cooperation with Reform UK councillors.
Badenoch's Remarks on Local Pacts
Asked about the possibility of Tory/Reform pacts at the local level, Badenoch initially noted that in councils where Reform won last year, there were no coalitions with the Conservatives. However, she added: "We are willing to work with people who will help deliver Conservative policies."
Lib Dem Response
Commenting on this answer, Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said: "Lifelong Conservative voters across the country will be appalled that Kemi Badenoch is opening the door to coalitions with Reform. This is a dress rehearsal for the next general election when the Conservatives are preparing to put Nigel Farage into Number 10."
It is not unusual for parties that fight each other aggressively to end up cooperating in local government if no one has a majority and if they can agree on a shared agenda.
National Level Cooperation Denied
At the national level, Badenoch and Farage have both rejected talk that they could go into the next election with some sort of electoral pact. However, during the election campaign, both have offered hints that they might be open to a rethink.
Farage's Cautious Stance
In an interview with The Times last month, Farage did not rule out a pact. Steven Swinford reported: "Given the potential for a hung parliament, can Farage rule out a confidence and supply arrangement with the Tories after the next election? Reform's leader is coy. 'You're talking about a scenario that is so far down the road.' He says it is 'highly undesirable' but does not rule it out. 'Well there's never a no, is there,' he says. 'There's never a no to anything in life, but it's highly undesirable on the basis of trust.'"
Badenoch's Shift in Position
When Badenoch was asked about this for an interview with the Sunday Times at the weekend, she did not rule it out either. Josh Glancy wrote: "In recent interviews, Badenoch has been unequivocally opposed to this idea. 'I have ruled out a coalition with Reform in Westminster, and I rule it out here,' she told The Times last month. But today? It's no longer a no. 'I just think it's too soon to even be talking about stuff like that,' Badenoch says. 'Right now, I need people to understand what this new Conservative party is. If you start talking about deals, it sounds like you're trying to stitch up jobs.' Later she seems more unequivocal: 'I meet Conservatives every day who say, "If you go to Reform, then we're done."' The door appears to be ajar then, but only just."
Kemi Badenoch in Croydon, starting a tour of London in a branded taxi. Photograph: James Manning/PA
