Reports suggesting that Reform UK and the Conservatives might merge or form a pre-election pact have been firmly rejected by both parties. The Financial Times cited unnamed sources claiming Nigel Farage told donors he sees an agreement as inevitable, signalling doubts about his ability to secure power independently. Farage dismissed the rumours, insisting he would never strike a deal with a party he does not trust, warning that a pact with the Conservatives as they currently stand would cost Reform votes.
The speculation comes amid concern among Reform supporters that competing in the same constituencies could split the right-wing vote under the first-past-the-post system, benefiting Labour. In 2024, Reform UK garnered 4.1 million votes, making it the third-largest party, yet it secured just five of 650 seats.
Polling suggests Reform could win 271 seats, short of the 324 needed for a majority. While some Tory figures, such as Robert Jenrick, have privately expressed support for avoiding competition with Reform, party leadership under Kemi Badenoch maintains that no deals or pacts are planned.
Despite Reform’s momentum, attracting around 20 former Tory MPs, the Conservatives retain a funding advantage, raising three times more in the first half of 2025. Current polls show Reform at 26%, ahead of a deadlocked Labour and Conservative both at 19%, highlighting the evolving dynamics of the right-wing vote.
Farage continues to insist that Reform’s strategy remains independent, with no formal negotiations planned, even as speculation about collaboration persists.
