Westminster is gripped by political turmoil as senior Conservative figures launch a desperate mission to prevent catastrophic electoral defeat by uniting the right-wing vote. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has emerged as a key player in secret talks aimed at forging an alliance with Reform UK.
The Numbers That Terrify Tory HQ
Internal Conservative polling reveals a nightmare scenario: the split in right-wing votes could see the party reduced to fewer than 100 seats. With Reform UK consistently polling between 10-12%, their presence in the election is poised to hand dozens of constituencies to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Jenrick's Secret Mission
Robert Jenrick, who resigned from government over Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill, has been quietly working behind the scenes with former Reform UK spokesman Gawain Towler. Their objective is clear - establish electoral pacts that would see Reform stand aside in certain constituencies in exchange for policy concessions.
What Reform Wants
According to sources close to the negotiations, Reform UK's demands include:
- Much tougher immigration policies
- Substantial tax cuts
- Abandonment of net zero commitments
- Radical overhaul of the Equality Act
Sunak's Dilemma
The Prime Minister faces an impossible choice: embrace the hard right and risk alienating moderate Conservatives, or watch his party get decimated by split voting. Senior Tories are deeply divided, with some viewing any deal with Reform as "political suicide" while others see it as their only hope of survival.
The Ghost of 1997
Current polling suggests the Conservatives could face their worst defeat since Tony Blair's landslide. Without some form of electoral pact, political analysts predict the Tories could be left with fewer seats than during their previous worst performance.
The coming weeks will determine whether Britain's right can overcome its internal divisions or whether ideological purity will consign them to political wilderness for a generation.
