Farage opens door to Reform-Tories post-election pact – one day after Badenoch ruled it out

Farage opens door to Reform-Tories post-election pact – one day after Badenoch ruled it out The Clacton MP said a pact before the next election is ‘extremely unlikely’, but added: ‘After an election, who’s to say?’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has refused to rule out entering a post-election agreement with the Conservatives, just a day after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch explicitly rejected the prospect. The Clacton MP stated that a formal pact prior to the next general election remains "extremely unlikely", but added: "After an election, who’s to say?" The remarks follow Mrs Badenoch’s Conservative Party conference speech on Wednesday, in which she accused Reform of wanting to "take us backwards", adding: "To those who say ‘unite the right’, we are not uniting with that." The development also comes a day after an internal review concluded that Reform did not break electoral law after senior figures held discussions on how to disguise foreign donations. The internal investigation, sparked by a Channel 4 News report into Reform’s funding, acknowledged two senior figures had "said things that were wrong, careless and in one instance untrue". However, the 27-page report published on Wednesday concluded that the proposed £500,000 donation from a foreign source "did not take place" and Reform had not commissioned polls paid for by undercover reporters. A Reform spokesperson said the party believed the production company involved in the report, Verbatim Investigations, had “acted unlawfully” and said it would take “appropriate legal action in due course”. Mr Farage insisted the internal investigation was as thorough as an external one, and said the party would be launching legal proceedings against Verbatim “very shortly”. Speaking in Accrington in Lancashire, he said: “No laws have been broken, other than the company that was taken on by Channel 4, and they have clearly broken the law, and we will be issuing legal proceedings very, very shortly. “They were trying to encourage our people to give them advice as to how they could get round the existing laws, or frankly, just break the laws, and that of itself is a criminal offence.” Mr Farage confirmed two members of staff, his long-time aide Dan Jukes and the party’s head of policy James Orr, are still suspended. He said: “It’s all been reported to the police, and there’ll be an inquiry. I’m not concerned about the outcome, but they stay suspended.” Asked about Prime Minister Andy Burnham opening the door to rejoining the EU, Mr Farage said: “If he wants to fight about rejoining the European Union, then someone please hold my jacket.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments