Badenoch Urged to Strike Deal with Reform Before Election
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch faces growing pressure from Tory MPs to form an electoral pact with Reform UK to prevent vote-splitting that could benefit Labour in an expected snap election.
Multiple Tory MPs are now publicly advocating for a “unite the Right” strategy that would see Conservative and Reform candidates stand down in selected constituencies to prevent vote-splitting that could hand seats to Labour and other left-wing parties.
The urgency of these calls has intensified following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation announcement last week and widespread expectations that Labour’s incoming leader may trigger a snap election to consolidate power.
Badenoch herself rejected the prospect of any formal pact with Nigel Farage just days ago, insisting the two parties are fundamentally different. But dissent within Conservative ranks is growing louder.
One unnamed Conservative MP told the Telegraph, according to GB News, that preventing another Labour majority or a hard-Left coalition involving the SNP, Greens, and Liberal Democrats must be the priority. The MP argued that Conservatives and Reform must collaborate to avoid cannibalizing each other’s votes and maximize seat counts for both parties.
The MP stressed that any arrangement must be finalized before the election is called, warning that timing could be shorter than many expect. Support for coordination spans MPs, donors, and senior figures across both parties, the source added.
A second Conservative MP reinforced the message, stating it is absolutely essential that the Right unite, particularly since the Left will certainly do so. The MP acknowledged that some form of accommodation between the Conservatives and Reform is inevitable, though the precise structure remains to be negotiated.
Proposals under discussion reportedly include tactical candidate withdrawals in key battlegrounds, ceasing hostile campaign rhetoric between the two parties, and coordinating messaging to present a unified front against Labour-led governance.
The debate underscores deep strategic divisions within the Conservative Party over how to rebuild electoral strength after recent setbacks, with one camp favoring ideological purity and another prioritizing pragmatic alliances to block the Left from power.
With information from GB News
