The Conservatives may need to form a coalition with Reform to run Britain after the next general election, a senior Tory peer said today.
Lord Ben Houchen said there would have to be a ‘conversation’ about a pact of some kind with Nigel Farage‘s party if it meant booting Labour out of Downing Street after a single term.
The elected mayor of the Tees Valley spoke out after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and her senior shadow ministers again distanced themselves from a deal with Reform.
It comes ahead of local elections on Thursday in which Reform are expected to make significant gains while the Tories haemorrhage seats.
Appearing on the BBC‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Lord Houchen said: ‘If at the next election there are a significant number of MPs in the Tory Party and Reform that create a significant majority then obviously there is going to be a conversation to form a coalition or some sort of pact.
‘I am talking about the practicalities of keeping Labour out of government because we have seen what they have done in the last 10 months.’
However, appearing on the same programme minutes later, shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake ruled out a deal, saying: ‘How can you have a pact with a party that wants to nationalise vast swathes of UK industry, wants to privatise the NHS and seems to favour Vladimir Putin over Ukraine?
‘There are some real difference between us.’
Lord Houchen said there would have to be a ‘conversation’ about a pact of some kind with Nigel Farage’s party if it meant booting Labour of oif Downing Street after a single term.
It comes ahead of local elections on Thursday in which Reform are expected to make significant gains while the Tories haemorrhage seats.
However, appearing on the same programme minutes later, shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake ruled out a deal, saying: ‘How can you have a pact with a party that wants to nationalise vast swathes of UK industry, wants to privatise the NHS and seems to favour Vladimir Putin over Ukraine?
Mrs Badenoch had earlier reiterated that she would not go into coalition with Nigel Farage or Reform at national level.
A Labour Party Spokesperson, responding to the Conservatives’ Sunday broadcast appearances, said:
‘Ben Houchen is saying what Kemi Badenoch only dares to hint at: the Tories and Reform will work together to stop Labour bringing the change this country needs.
Asked if she will forbid councillors from going into a coalition with Reform in the coming local elections on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she said: ‘I want to be extremely clear, because people have often been confused by this.
‘I’m not going into any coalition whatsoever with Nigel Farage or Reform at national level.’
She added: ‘At local level, it’s different. In the national election, you can rerun the election, at local level you can’t. So, there might be no overall control.
‘And what I’ve said to our councillors, I trust these people, they’re very smart, they’ve been doing this for decades, is that you have to do what is right for your local area.
‘At the moment, we are in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with Independents, we’ve been in coalition with Labour before at local government level. They have to look at who the people are that they’re going into coalition with and seeing how they can deliver for local people.
‘What I don’t want to hear is talks of stitch-ups or people planning things before the result is out. They have to do what’s right for their community.’
A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘Ben Houchen is saying what Kemi Badenoch only dares to hint at: the Tories and Reform will work together to stop Labour bringing the change this country needs.’
Mrs Badenoch had earlier reiterated that she would not go into coalition with Nigel Farage or Reform at national level.
The leader dismissed talk of a link-up at the national level after Robert Jenrick , the shadow justice secretary, last week suggested action would be needed to prevent the ‘nightmare scenario’ of Keir Starmer winning in 2029.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said: ‘Kemi Badenoch’s authority lies in tatters. Senior figures in the Conservative Party are openly contradicting her on the airwaves, knowing there will be no consequences.
‘The Conservatives have taken the same approach to opposition as they did to Government, taking voters for granted whilst being marred in chaos and infighting.
‘The public is appalled at the prospect of Badenoch doing a grubby deal with Farage.’
The leader dismissed talk of a link-up at the national level after Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, last week suggested action would be needed to prevent the ‘nightmare scenario’ of Keir Starmer winning in 2029.
In comments to a group of conservative students he warned Labour could ‘sail in through the middle as a result of the two parties being disunited’ and back into No10.
In comments recorded last month and passed to Sky News he said he would work to prevent Reform from becoming ‘a permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene’.
But if they was not possible, he went on, he wanted the fight against Labour to be ‘united’, adding: ‘One way or another, I’m determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well.’
Mr Farage later distanced his party from a link-up, saying Reform ‘would be in revolt’ if the party did a deal with the Conservatives.
