Conservative Members Back Reform UK Pact Despite Leader Rejection

A YouGov poll of 652 Conservative Party members reveals significant internal appetite for a strategic alliance with Reform UK. Approximately 64% of members support an electoral pact to avoid competing in target seats, and 73% favor a coalition government in the event of a hung parliament. Nearly half of those polled support a full merger between the two parties.

Despite this member support, Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have both ruled out such arrangements. Shadow Foreign Minister Andrew Rosindell urged the leaders to collaborate, arguing that the current electoral system cannot accommodate two conservative parties without splitting the vote and inadvertently securing a Labour government victory.

Internal instability is also evident within the party leadership. While 61% of members believe Badenoch is doing a good job as leader, 50% believe she should not be the prime ministerial candidate in 2029. Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, is the preferred successor for 37% of members. While Jenrick publicly dismissed the pact as a 'fool's errand' and backed Badenoch, reports suggest he has privately supported a movement to unite the right to prevent a Labour victory.