Exclusive

'Would I trust them? The answer is no': Farage reacts to calls for election pact between Tories and Reform

15 January 2025, 09:26 | Updated: 15 January 2025, 10:14

Farage says he doesn't 'trust' the Tories - after Suella Braverman said she would be open to a coalition
Farage says he doesn't 'trust' the Tories - after Suella Braverman said she would be open to a coalition. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

Nigel Farage has told LBC he doesn't 'trust' the Tories after Suella Braverman admitted she would be open to a coalition.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Nick Ferrari asked Mr Farage on LBC this morning: “How open would you be to some kind of deal in four years time?”

Mr Farage said: “Would I trust them? The answer is no.”

He said that he withdrew candidates to get Brexit over the line "as an act of goodwill."

"What was I rewarded with?" he asked Nick.

He said he had been let down with promises on migration, and cutting EU red tape for businesses.

“Really the question you are asking me is would I trust them? And the answer is no.”

Mr Farage's comments come after Suella Braverman admitted she would be open to a coalition between the Conservatives and Reform UK in order to take down Labour at the next general election.

The former home secretary said “there’s not enough room for two Conservative parties” based on recent polling and that the parties would need to come together to reach an overall majority.

The Conservatives had their worst ever performance in last year's general election, winning just 121 seats, and much of this could be attributed to the rise of Reform, who won over 14% of the votes.

Suella Braverman on the possibility of partnering with Reform UK

Read More; ‘There is not space for two Conservative parties’: Suella Braverman calls for Tory election pact with Reform

Read more: Suella Braverman admits Conservatives 'could have done more' to probe grooming gangs amid calls for national inquiry

While taking calls on LBC, Ms Braverman said: "If you look at this last poll, if you take the collective vote share of the Conservatives and Reform we're approaching 50%.

“You can't win an election outright on 25% and ultimately I'm someone who really does think we should do whatever it takes to stop another Labour administration and if there is territory for agreement or a coalition...I would support it."

She added: “At some point a serious conversation needs to be had (but) there's not enough space in British politics for two Conservative parties."

A recent YouGov poll suggests Reform has grown in support to within one percentage point of Labour.

The data collected over the weekend puts Labour on 26%, Reform on 25% and the Conservatives on 22%.

This is a major change from the general election, when Labour was on 35%, Conservatives on 24% and Reform on 15%.

Nigel Farage led Reform to over 14% of vote in the election last summer
Nigel Farage led Reform to over 14% of vote in the election last summer. Picture: Alamy

Ms Braverman admitted that it was the Tories' fault for allowing the rise of Reform given their stance on certain policies.

She said: "I've been warning for some time about the severe threat the Conservative party faces at the moment.

"We have been hurt by the Reform party because their success has been meteoric in a very short space of time and much of our defeat was because of Reform.

"This is our fault, the Conservatives failed to tackle immigration, we failed to cut taxes, we failed to stand up for common sense patriotic values and it's our fault that Reform has risen so exponentially."

The former home secretary said 'there’s not enough room for two conservative parties'
The former home secretary said 'there’s not enough room for two conservative parties'. Picture: Alamy

Aside from the motivation of defeating Labour at the next election, Ms Braverman advocated a coalition given the extent of overlap between the parties' policies and values.

She said: “There's a lot of stuff that Reform talks about that I agree with.

"I’m a very strong advocate for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, their policy approach on law and order, net migration.

“I agree with that, many of my members agree. many members of the Conservative party agree with that so there is a lot of overlap.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

c

Well-designed protections don't block progress - they enable it

Sainsbury's has announced plans to axe 3,000 jobs

Sainsbury's to cut 3,000 jobs and close in-store cafes

Lynn Ban attends the 'House On Fire' New York Premiere

Singaporean Bling Empire star Lynn Ban dies weeks after ski accident

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana should 'rot in jail', a victim's parent has said.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana told police 'I'm so glad they're dead' after murdering three girls

The attack happened in a warehouse in Croydon

Supermarket horror as four injured in shocking knife attack at warehouse in South London

South of France , Province , Club Med Opio , swimming pool with loungers & grey gray rain clouds

Couple who sued over 'stale hotel croissants' on Provence getaway awarded £4k damages by judge

'I'd build a fourth runway at Heathrow,' says Michael Gove

'Build, baby, build': Michael Gove says he'd green light 'fourth runway at Heathrow,' as Reeves' plans divide Labour

Live
Axel Rudakubana is being sentenced for the murder of three girls in the Southport knife rampage

LIVE: Southport killer told police ‘I’m glad they’re dead’ - as he’s ordered out of sentencing for demanding paramedic

A rare red weather alert has been issued warning of danger to life

Rare red ‘danger to life’ weather alert issued ahead of Storm Éowyn

Police officers stand in lines to stop the at Whitehall in London.

Met Police out of special measures after boosting performance despite 'failing in almost every area' just 5 months ago

Kyle Clifford pled guilty to the murder of Carol Hunt and her two daughters.

Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford ‘controlled and ridiculed’ girlfriend 'banning' her from staying out late and wearing make-up

Police at the scene of the attack last night

Hunt for killer after woman in her 40s dies after 'serious assault' in Plymouth

Adele told the world Lock House was haunted.

Adele sabotaged sale of my £6million mansion by telling the world it is haunted, landlord fumes

Boy attacked by Axel Rudakubana with hockey stick 'targeted by thugs' blaming him for Southport attack

Boy attacked by Axel Rudakubana with hockey stick 'targeted by thugs' blaming him for Southport attack

Exclusive
A resident has told LBC of the horrific aftermath of the Southport attack perpetrated by Axel Rudakubana

'I looked him in the eye and said what have you done?': Horror aftermath of Southport rampage revealed

The service says it saw a huge jump in signups following the January 6 riot, which prompted Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to crack down on Trump and others who they said had incited violence. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

January 6 rioter arrested on gun charges less than 24 hours after Trump pardon