Lord Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, said there would be a ‘conversation’ at the next general election if there were enough Tory and Reform MPs to keep Labour out of power
Kemi Badenoch’s authority “lies in tatters”, critics have said after one of the UK’s top Tories hinted at a coalition with Reform.
Lord Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Tees Valley, said there would be a “conversation” if there are enough Conservative and Reform MPs to join forces and beat Labour. But that idea was immediately shot down by Tory Cabinet member Kevin Hollinrake, who poured scorn on Nigel Farage’s party.
Lord Houchen told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “If at the next election there are a number of MPs in the Tory Party and Reform that create a significant majority, then obviously there’s going to be a conversation to form a coalition of some sort of pact.”
He went on to say: “I’m talking about the practicalities of keeping Labour out of government because we’ve seen what they’ve done in the last ten months.” The issue has opened up a split in Tory ranks after Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick was recorded hinting at a pact – despite Ms Badenoch’s opposition.
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Tory Shadow Housing Secretary Mr Hollinrake responded: “There’ll be no pacts with Reform. How can you have a pact with a party that wants to nationalise large swathes of UK industry and wants to privatise the NHS?
“It seems to favour Vladimir Putin over Ukraine… There are some real differences between us.” Lib Dem 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.”
Reform has indicated it would not favour a pact with the Tories even if one were on offer. Last week Mr Farage told Sky News: “It’s not happening, our voters came to us from the Conservatives because they felt so betrayed by the Conservatives.
“Why would we [join forces], given what we’re building here, why would we want to ally to a Conservative Party we don’t agree with and, frankly, we see as a failing brand.”
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