Kemi Badenoch Rejects Reform UK Pact, Labels Party ‘Quite Left-Wing’

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has emphatically rejected suggestions of a pre-election pact with Reform UK, calling the idea “b******t” and describing Nigel Farage’s party as “quite left-wing” in an interview with The Spectator. This comes despite calls from veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh for a “Unite the Right” alliance to prevent a further left-wing government.

Badenoch’s Firm Rejection

Kemi Badenoch, who currently holds the highest net approval rating among party leaders, firmly pushed back against any notion of an alliance with Reform UK. According to GB News Politics, Mrs Badenoch dismissed claims she was open to a deal with Mr Farage as “b******t”, sharing clips from her interview with The Spectator to clarify her position.

When asked by The Spectator’s Tim Shipman about a post-election deal, Mrs Badenoch stated, “This country cannot have another left-wing Government. But, I’m afraid, Reform has quite a lot of left-wing ideas.” On a pre-election pact, she was even clearer: “On deals, non-aggression pacts, and so on, these things do end up failing apart anyway. I just say, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.”

Calls for a ‘Unite the Right’ Alliance

Despite Badenoch’s stance, veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh has publicly advocated for an alliance between the Conservatives and Reform UK. Speaking to GB News, Sir Edward, the Father of the House, urged Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage to “realise that our policies are almost exactly the same.”

Sir Edward argued that “Under a first-past-the-post system, unless we have some sort of alliance, as night follows day, Kemi and Nigel, there will be an even more left-wing Government.” He suggested the Tories should not contest seats Reform UK aims to win from Labour, echoing Mr Farage’s 2019 Brexit Party strategy. Sir Edward also echoed Badenoch’s sentiment, stating, “My only argument with Reform, by the way, and this is me speaking personally, is that I’m more right-wing than them because I’m a Thatcherite.”

• Kemi Badenoch dismissed claims of a pact with Reform UK as “b******t”.
• She described Reform UK’s policies as “quite left-wing” in The Spectator.
• Veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh called for a “Unite the Right” alliance.
• Sir Edward suggested a non-aggression pact, similar to the 2019 Brexit Party strategy.
• Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg supported Badenoch’s openness to a coalition to “keep the left out.”
• A former Tory insider suggested the party was “begging Nigel to do a deal.”

What This Means for Britain

This political wrangling highlights the deep divisions within the right-of-centre political landscape, even as both parties face an increasingly dominant Labour government.

For ordinary British people, this internal Conservative debate means continued uncertainty about the future direction of the right, potentially splitting the vote further and solidifying the current government’s position.

The refusal of a pact by Badenoch, while Leigh calls for unity, shows a clear strategic disagreement on how to challenge the Labour government, which could impact election outcomes for years to come.

Reform UK’s stated policy is to replace the Conservative Party, not to prop it up. Nigel Farage has repeatedly made clear Reform UK’s goal is to become the main opposition to the Labour government.

The labelling of Reform UK as “quite left-wing” by Badenoch may confuse voters who see Reform UK as the most right-wing option on issues like immigration, Net Zero, and sovereignty.

This public disagreement suggests that the Conservative Party is struggling to define its identity and strategy in opposition, potentially alienating both traditional Tory voters and those considering Reform UK.

Share if you believe the Conservative Party is out of touch with ordinary British voters.

This article is a factual summary of reporting by GB News Politics. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.

Source: GB News Politics | Breaking Brexit News