Tories reject Reform UK tie-up as critics label both parties excessively extreme
At the Conservative conference, Kemi Badenoch dismissed any coalition with Reform UK, prompting Labour and union leaders to mock the idea as a "too nasty for the nasty party" scenario.
At the Conservative annual conference in Birmingham, party leader Kemi Badenoch ruled out a post-election coalition with Reform UK, arguing the Tories would rather endure two successive elections than share power with the far-right party. The stance sparked criticism from Labour MPs, who described a potential alliance as "too nasty for the nasty party," and from TUC chief Paul Nowak, who warned it would produce a reckless right-wing government.
Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that rejecting a Tory-Reform pact would be "bonkers," while some conference attendees expressed support for a coalition to block a left-wing government. Recent YouGov polling places Labour five points ahead of Reform and the Conservatives at a distant third. Badenoch also hinted at upcoming policy announcements, including a possible inheritance-tax cut and a pledge to halve employers' national insurance for workers aged 21-24, proposals Labour labelled unfunded. The debate highlighted deep divisions within the Conservative Party after its 2024 electoral defeat.
Why it matters
The ruling party's refusal to ally with Reform UK shapes the UK's post-election political landscape and influences upcoming policy debates.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Richard Tice condemns Chinese imports while Reform UK merch made in China is on sale
- Sep 4 National Rally leader Jordan Bardella delivered an English speech at Reform UK’s gathering, emphasizing tighter ties with the British party and joint immigration control.
- Sep 4 Reform UK invited Bardella to speak at its Birmingham conference.
- Sep 6 West Midlands Police have issued a call for the protester to come forward to assist their inquiry.
- Sep 7 The memorandum was signed, moving the idea from conference discussion to a formal agreement.
- Sep 18 Liberal Democrat members say the party has stalled since its 2024 election surge and aim to adopt a more aggressive tone at this weekend’s conference.
- Sep 22 YouGov's latest seat-by-seat model indicates Reform UK would secure just 123 seats if a general election were called today, a sharp drop from a similar poll a year ago. Labour is forecast to lead with 241 seats, followed by the Conservatives at 130, while the Liberal Democrats hold steady at 71. The results point to the first hung parliament since the 2010 coalition. Reform also appears to be losing its high-profile MPs Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman back to the Conservatives. The party's decline follows recent scandals involving alleged off-the-books polling and the suspension of aides Dan Jukes and James Orr, prompting a Met Police investigation.
- Sep 25 A new YouGov poll shows Reform UK level with the Conservatives and behind Labour.
- Sep 27 The party has moved from internal frustration to publicly unveiling a health‑and‑economy platform at its conference.
- Sep 28 Lee Anderson announced a “whip round” to raise funds for the woman struck with a walking stick.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
- Oct 6 Announced a cut to employer National Insurance for 21‑ to 24‑year‑olds from 15% to 7.5%.
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