Badenoch Rules Out Reform Alliance Despite Tory Poll Slump
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has ruled out any electoral pact with Reform UK, calling Nigel Farage's party "woke" and driven by grievance politics despite the Tories trailing in polls.
Speaking on the Political Currency podcast with Ed Balls, according to GB News, Badenoch drew a sharp distinction between her party and Reform UK, dismissing suggestions of cooperation either before or after future elections.
When pressed on what separates the Conservatives from Reform, the North West Essex MP explained that the populist party operates on victim narratives and targets broad segments of society. When I talk about woke, I talk about people who think it’s all grievance, Badenoch stated, adding that Reform is fundamentally about demonising large portions of the population.
No Deals, No Stitch-Ups
Badenoch categorically rejected both pre-election and post-election agreements with Reform UK, characterising such arrangements as a “stitch-up” that would serve political insiders rather than the British public. She insisted that those advocating for deals are typically motivated by personal ambition rather than the national interest.
The Conservative leader’s firm stance comes despite her party losing ground in recent polling. The latest YouGov survey shows the Conservatives dropped two points, now sitting just three points behind Labour and four points behind Farage’s Reform UK, as GB News reports.
Defections and Party Division
Badenoch’s rejection of cooperation with Reform is particularly notable given recent high-profile defections to Farage’s party, including former senior Conservatives Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman. Despite these losses and the party’s declining poll numbers, the Tory leader maintains that ideological differences make any alliance impossible.
The Conservative chief argued that the word “woke” has been misunderstood and misapplied across the political spectrum, but she uses it specifically to describe politics rooted in grievance and victimhood rather than solutions and national unity.
With information from GB News
