Badenoch Rules Out Reform UK Coalition, Vows Fresh Election Instead

Kemi Badenoch has drawn a firm line in the sand over the Conservatives' post-election strategy, declaring she would prefer a second general election over entering any governing arrangement with Reform UK. The Conservative leader made the remarks during an interview with BBC Political Editor Chris Mason as her party's annual conference in Birmingham drew to a close.

Asked directly whether she would work with Nigel Farage's party in the event of a hung parliament, Badenoch was unequivocal: Conservative voters should back the Conservatives, and if no party secures an overall majority, she would push for another trip to the polls rather than negotiate a deal with Reform.

Her refusal rests partly on her assessment of the rival party's recent troubles. Badenoch described Reform as being "neck deep in scandal," arguing that any partnership would mean "one problem after another." She cited the arrest of Dan Thomas, who stepped down as Reform's Welsh leader last month after being arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. Thomas has said he did nothing wrong.

She also pointed to the case of Nathan Gill, the former Reform leader in Wales, who was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after admitting he took bribes in exchange for pro-Russia interviews and speeches. In addition, Farage himself has faced intense scrutiny over financial support, including a £5 million gift from a billionaire Reform donor received before he became an MP. Farage has consistently insisted he has done nothing improper.

Beyond the scandals, Badenoch made a direct appeal to Reform's supporters, urging them to "come back" to the Conservative fold. Her message reflects a strategic calculation: the Tories cannot hope to form a majority government unless they first persuade voters who defected to Reform to return.

Current polling points to a hung parliament at the next general election, with Labour expected to emerge as the largest party, followed by Reform and then the Conservatives. Badenoch acknowledged the volatility of the political landscape but insisted her party remains the only credible alternative to Labour, saying it is the sole party with a plan.

She also placed her leadership in the context of renewal, telling the BBC that the Conservatives are returning to their authentic roots after publishing a 100-page policy document titled The Right Way, which sets out the party's guiding principles. The document is part of a broader effort to distance the party from the historic defeat it suffered in the 2024 general election.

Privately, senior Conservatives are said to be focused on reaching what they describe as a "tipping point" in the battle for support with Reform. The hope is that if the Tories can first draw level and then edge ahead of Reform in the polls, they can frame themselves as the only viable challenger to Labour, potentially drawing further support as a result.

Badenoch has long ruled out any pre-election deal with Reform, having previously characterised the party as one determined to destroy the Conservatives. Her latest comments extend that stance into the post-election period, effectively closing the door on a coalition even if the arithmetic of a hung parliament made one tempting.

The conference also brought a significant policy announcement. Badenoch confirmed changes to the Conservatives' youth employment plans, proposing to halve the rate of employer National Insurance contributions on earnings for workers aged 21 to 24, cutting it from 15% to 7.5%. The revised approach replaces an earlier proposal announced last year, under which young people would have seen the first £5,000 of National Insurance paid in their first job diverted into a nominated savings account. That policy, branded the "First Job Bonus," was estimated to cost £2.8 billion annually.

Explaining the shift, Badenoch said youth unemployment had "skyrocketed" and that a savings bonus would be meaningless for young people who cannot secure work in the first place. She framed the change as an adaptation to present-day problems, saying the party is updating its policy so it works for the challenges young people now face.

Under the new plan, the reduced rate would apply to starter jobs, while the standard rate would kick in on earnings above £50,270. The Conservatives argue the measure smooths out a "cliff edge" in the current system, whereby employer National Insurance jumps from 0% to the full rate the moment a worker turns 21. The government has faced mounting calls to reduce employer contributions for younger workers as a way of boosting job opportunities, with roughly one million young people in the UK currently outside education, employment or training.

Pressed on why the cut would not be extended to all workers, Badenoch stressed fiscal discipline. She said the money must be found first, describing a "golden economic rule" under which the party identifies savings before committing to spending. She added that she would cut National Insurance for everyone if it were affordable, but indicated the public finances do not currently permit it.

The next general election must be held by August 2029, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month he was not tempted to call an early vote, arguing it would drag the country into a backward-looking process. Farage, meanwhile, has previously claimed Reform has "replaced the old fuddy-duddy existing Conservative Party," a jibe that underscores the fierce competition between the two parties on the right.

With the conference now wrapping up, Badenoch's twin messages—no deal with Reform, and a sharper economic offer for young workers—are designed to steady a party still recovering from its worst electoral result in modern history, while appealing to voters who may be weighing whether to give the Conservatives another chance.