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Farage Rejects Coalition Proposal with Conservatives Ahead of Local Elections
Nigel Farage has dismissed a proposal from Kemi Badenoch suggesting that Conservative and Reform UK councillors could collaborate in coalitions following the upcoming local elections.
Badenoch had indicated a willingness for Tory and Reform councillors to form formal agreements within local authorities if deemed beneficial for their communities. However, Farage, the leader of Reform UK, firmly stated that his party has “no intention” of creating coalitions with the Conservatives at any level post-May 1.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Badenoch clarified that while she firmly ruled out any national coalition with Farage, Tory councillors often engage in coalitions across party lines, including with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. “You don’t get to have a rerun of an election at local level, so what I’m telling local leaders across the country is they have to do what is right for the people in their local area,” she emphasized.
Farage countered this sentiment by stating that “Reform have no intention in forming coalitions with the Tories at any level,” criticizing the Conservatives for their governance, claiming they have “broken Britain nationally for 14 years” and that their local councils are contributing to community issues characterized by high taxation and inadequate services.
With local elections set to occur in over 20 councils in England in three weeks, Reform UK aims to capitalize on current political dynamics and is poised to potentially make significant electoral gains. The Conservatives, by contrast, are anticipated to face considerable losses in these elections. The last contest for these seats took place in 2021, under a more favorable climate for the Conservatives due to the successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Polls suggest that many councils may result in no overall control on May 1.
Despite increasing pressure from various MPs to unify the right-wing factions, both the Conservatives and Reform have ruled out forming a national alliance. Badenoch underscored that local councils should have the autonomy to “make the choice about what is right for their councils” as long as they adhere to Conservative values.
In response, Labour party chair Ellie Reeves remarked, “Now it’s crystal clear: if you vote Reform or Conservative, you’re opening the door to more of the Tory chaos that held our country back over the past 14 years.”
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticized the close alignment of policies between the Conservatives and Reform, stating, “You couldn’t put a cigarette paper between Badenoch and Farage when it comes to their policies.” She further claimed that “the Conservatives and Reform have merged in all but name under her leadership.”
Badenoch recognized the potential challenges in the upcoming elections, especially following the Conservative party’s “historic defeat” nationally last summer. “We can’t win everything all the time, but I want people to know that those local Conservatives are working hard for every vote,” she noted.
Research by Labour indicates that over 60 candidates from Reform UK in this year’s elections are defectors from the Conservative party. Notably, Reform has chosen a former Conservative as its candidate in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, also taking place on May 1. The party’s mayoral candidate for Greater Lincolnshire is former Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns.
Badenoch faced scrutiny regarding her absence in Runcorn and Helsby amid reports that Esther McVey, a former Tory cabinet minister, suggested that her party should “let Reform win” the seat. The Tory leader defended her position, stating that while her party is “fighting for every seat,” she could not be present everywhere simultaneously. “I’m here in Lancashire, and I’m supporting county council candidates all across the country, as well as our mayoral candidates,” she stated. “We need to make sure that people always have the option to vote Conservative.”
The by-election in Runcorn was necessitated by the resignation of the previous MP, Mike Amesbury, who received a suspended prison sentence following an incident in which he assaulted a man on the street last October.
Source
www.theguardian.com