Mr Farage slammed the reports as false (Image: Getty)
Both Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick have furiously slapped down claims of a Tory-Reform pact at the next election. Mr Farage’s denial came shortly after reports were published claiming he had told donors there would need to be a deal or a merger between the two right-wing parties before the next general election.
One donor claimed the Reform leader doesn’t believe he can sweep into Downing Street on his own, but that such a deal would have to be agreed on his terms. Last night Mr Farage branded the FT report “false”, adding “After 14 years of dishonesty & lies they should never be forgiven. The idea I’d work with them is ludicrous. They betrayed my trust in 2019 & we will ensure they cease to be a national party in May.”
Mr Jenrick also slapped down the reports this morning (Image: Getty)
The Reform UK leader was referring to his agreement to stand down in hundreds of seats in the 2019 general election, allowing Boris Johnson to sweep to victory against Jeremy Corbyn.
However Mr Farage and Reform UK widely view the major concession as a betrayal after Mr Johnson’s subsequent handling of immigration, Brexit, Net Zero and lockdowns.
This morning top Tory Robert Jenrick also insisted “there won’t be a deal” with Reform UK.
Speaking on Times Radio the Shadow Justice Secretary said: “I can’t speculate on what Nigel might have said at a boozy lunch in the City to his mates.
“All I can say is that my leader Kemi Badenoch said there won’t be a deal. Nigel Farage has said there won’t be a deal so there won’t be a deal. There won’t be a deal. These are two distinct political parties and their respective leaders have said no deal. So it’s as simple as that.”
Mr Jenrick also insisted he’s “not going anywhere” when asked about previous reports he could consider defecting to Mr Farage’s party.
Mr Farage has accepted a number of former Tory MPs defecting to his party, including one sitting Tory MP in the form of Danny Kruger.
One Reform donor told the FT: “They will have to come together, the Conservatives have been a successful political party forever because the left was always divided . . . If the right is divided, it can’t win.”
However YouGov’s Anthony Wells warned that a pact could also result in some moderate Tories defecting for centrist options like the LibDems, thus reducing overall support on the right.
