Badenoch Rules Out Coalition with Reform UK, Vows Fresh Election Instead

Kemi Badenoch has drawn a firm line in the sand over any future partnership with Nigel Farage's Reform UK, insisting she would prefer the country to return to the polls rather than enter into a governing arrangement with the rival right-wing party. In an interview with BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, the Conservative leader argued that Reform is mired in controversy and that any alliance would produce a constant stream of difficulties. Her intervention comes as the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham draws to a close, with the leadership keen to project a sense of renewed direction after a devastating general election defeat in 2024.

The Conservative leader was responding to a hypothetical scenario in which her party would emerge as the largest force in a hung parliament while Reform holds a substantial bloc of seats. Polling currently points to no single party securing an overall majority at the next election, with Labour expected to be the largest party, followed by Reform and then the Conservatives. Under such conditions, questions about possible coalitions or confidence-and-supply agreements become unavoidable, and Badenoch used the interview to shut down speculation about any accommodation with Farage's outfit.

Badenoch told the BBC that the choice for voters is straightforward, arguing that those who want Conservative government must cast a Conservative ballot. She said she has already made clear that if no party wins an overall majority, the country should be sent back to the polls rather than forced into a cobbled-together administration. The stance effectively rules out a formal deal with Reform while presenting the Tories as the only serious alternative to a Labour government.

The Conservative leader sought to discredit Reform by pointing to a series of scandals involving its personnel. She cited the case of Dan Thomas, who resigned last month as Reform's leader in Wales after being arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. Thomas has maintained that he has done nothing wrong. Badenoch also highlighted the case of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform in Wales, who was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after admitting he accepted bribes in return for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.

She further referenced the intense scrutiny Farage himself has faced over financial support, including a five million pound gift from a billionaire Reform donor before he became an MP. Farage has consistently insisted he has done nothing improper. Badenoch argued that these episodes demonstrate that aligning with Reform would mean inheriting a stream of problems rather than gaining a stable partner in government.

Despite the polling deficit, Badenoch struck an optimistic note about her party's prospects. She said Britain is now operating in a different and volatile political environment, and that within that context the Conservatives can compete and win. She acknowledged that current surveys do not show her party on course for victory but argued that the fragmentation of the vote creates opportunities for a recovery, particularly if the Tories can consolidate support on the centre-right.

Badenoch has been working to reposition the Conservatives as a changed party following their historic defeat two years ago. She published a hundred-page document titled "The Right Way", which sets out the principles she wants to define the party. She described the project as a return to an authentic Conservative Party that voters once knew and trusted. The document is intended to serve as an ideological anchor as the party rebuilds its policy platform and public image.

Appealing directly to Reform supporters, Badenoch said she wants them to come back to the Conservative fold. She framed the choice as one between a serious party with a coherent programme and a movement that she claims is consumed by internal difficulties. Her comments reflect a strategic calculation that the Conservative path back to power runs through reclaiming voters who defected to Reform, rather than through negotiating with Farage from a position of weakness.

On the policy front, Badenoch used the interview to announce a significant adjustment to the party's offer for young workers. The Conservatives now propose halving the rate of employer National Insurance contributions on earnings for people aged 21 to 24, reducing it from 15% to 7.5%. The party said the measure is targeted at starter jobs, with the standard rate applying to earnings above £50,270.

The change replaces an earlier plan, announced last year, under which young people would have seen the first £5,000 of National Insurance they would have paid in their first job redirected into a nominated savings account. That policy, branded the "First Job Bonus", was estimated to cost 2.8 billion pounds a year. Badenoch explained that youth unemployment has risen sharply, making it illogical to offer a bonus to people who are not securing employment in the first place.

She said the party is adapting its approach to address the problems young people face today. According to the Conservatives, the new measure smooths a cliff edge that exists when employer National Insurance jumps from zero to the full rate as a worker turns 21. The party argues the change would improve incentives for firms to hire younger workers at a time when around one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training.

The government has faced calls to reduce employer National Insurance contributions for younger workers as a way of boosting job opportunities. Badenoch defended the decision not to cut the levy for all age groups, saying the money has to be found first. She pointed to what she described as a golden economic rule, under which the party identifies savings before committing to spending, in an effort to maintain fiscal credibility with voters and markets.

Badenoch also used the interview to set out her broader priorities, listing economic growth, making the country richer, stopping small boat crossings, and bringing down energy costs. She said the Conservatives have developed plans on borders, welfare, and defence. The emphasis on these themes signals the party's intention to fight the next election on competence and delivery rather than personality or protest politics.

The political backdrop remains difficult for the Conservatives. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month that he was not tempted to call an early general election, arguing it would drag the country into a backward-looking process. Under the current timetable, the next election must be held by August 2029. Farage has previously claimed that Reform has replaced what he called the old fuddy-duddy Conservative Party, a jibe that underlines the threat the Tories face on their right flank.

Privately, senior Conservatives speak of a potential tipping point in the contest between the two parties. Their hope is that if the Tories can draw level with Reform and then edge ahead in the polls, they can credibly argue they are the only viable alternative to Labour. That argument, they believe, could then attract further support and gradually restore the party's standing. Whether Badenoch's refusal to deal with Reform strengthens that case, or merely entrenches a fragmented vote, will become clearer as the next election approaches.