Badenoch Rules Out Alliance with Reform UK and Nigel Farage

Conservative Party chair Kemi Badenoch told listeners of the *Political Currency* podcast that she will not enter any electoral agreement with Reform UK, the party led by former Brexit Party figure Nigel Farage. She described Reform UK as “woke” and said a pact would risk confusing voters about the Conservative Party’s core platform. Badenoch emphasized that her goal is to unite the country, not merely “unite the right,” and that governing cannot rely on a coalition of only one ideological half.

The Independent

Speculation about a “unite the right” strategy has circulated for months, fueled by reports that Farage had hinted to donors an agreement with the Conservatives might be inevitable. Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, has repeatedly denied any formal pact, insisting he would not trust the Conservatives enough for a deal. After the upcoming May 2026 local elections, Farage warned that the Conservative Party could cease to be a national party, suggesting a broader realignment of the right-wing vote.

The Independent

Badenoch argued that a partnership with Reform UK would blur the Conservative Party’s message and potentially alienate moderate voters. She reiterated that she will make no deal with Reform UK either before or after the next general election. Farage, for his part, dismissed the notion of a “reverse takeover” and maintained that the Conservatives would lose their national status if they continued to pursue such alliances.

The Independent

The public rejection of a Reform UK alliance signals the Conservative leadership’s intent to distance itself from far-right rhetoric ahead of the next election cycle. By labeling Reform UK “woke,” Badenoch seeks to preserve the party’s mainstream appeal while limiting the influence of Farage’s populist platform on future Conservative policy. The stance may also shape donor expectations and voter calculations as the 2026 local elections approach.

The Independent