Badenoch Rules Out Deal With Reform UK, Prefers New Election

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that she would rather face another general election than enter into a deal with Reform UK to secure power, especially in a scenario where no single party wins a majority in the next election.

Badenoch told the BBC that Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is "neck deep in scandal," and any alliance with them would lead to "just one problem after another." Current polling suggests a hung parliament is likely after the next election, with Labour anticipated to be the largest party, followed by Reform UK and then the Conservatives.

As the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham draws to a close, Badenoch also outlined a proposal to reduce the cost of hiring individuals aged 21 to 24. The plan involves halving the rate of employer National Insurance (NI) contributions for this age group.

Badenoch has been working to re-establish the Conservatives as a distinct political force, aiming to differentiate from the party that experienced a significant defeat in the 2024 general election. She recently published a 100-page document titled "The Right Way," which details the party's core principles, and stated that the party is returning to its "authentic Conservative Party, that people knew and loved."

Despite polls indicating that only about one-fifth of voters would support the Conservatives, Badenoch expressed optimism about the party's prospects. She acknowledged the current political landscape is "volatile" but believes the party can still win.

"The current polling shows a hung parliament, no party getting an overall majority," Badenoch said. "My prediction is that there would be another election immediately after. But we're the only credible alternative to Labour, the only ones with a plan."

When presented with a hypothetical situation where the Conservatives are the largest party and Reform UK holds a significant number of seats in a hung parliament, Badenoch reiterated her stance. "If you want Conservative, you have to vote Conservative. I have said we'd have another election if there was no overall majority."

Badenoch expressed a desire for Reform UK voters to return to the Conservative fold, referencing past controversies involving Reform UK figures. She pointed to the arrest of Dan Thomas, who resigned as Reform's leader in Wales after being arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behavior. Thomas has stated he did nothing wrong. Badenoch also highlighted the case of Nathan Gill, a former Reform leader in Wales, who was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for admitting to taking bribes in exchange for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.

Nigel Farage has also faced scrutiny regarding financial support, including a significant donation before he became a Member of Parliament. He maintains he has acted appropriately.

Badenoch outlined the Conservatives' policy priorities: "I want to get this economy growing, I want to make the country richer, I want to stop the boats, we've got a plan on borders, we've got a plan on welfare, we've got a plan on defence and bringing energy costs down. That's what we're about."

Internally, some Conservatives believe that a shift in public support, where the Conservatives draw level with and then surpass Reform UK in opinion polls, could position them as the only viable alternative to a Labour government and attract more voters.

Badenoch has consistently stated her unwillingness to form a pre-election pact with Reform UK, viewing the party as an attempt to undermine the Conservatives.

In other policy discussions, Badenoch addressed changes to a youth employment initiative. The revised proposal suggests cutting the employer NI rate for individuals aged 21 to 24 from 15% to 7.5% on their earnings. This policy aims to address concerns that youth unemployment has increased significantly. The Conservatives previously proposed a "First Job Bonus" last year, which would have redirected the initial £5,000 of NI paid by young people into a savings account, at an estimated annual cost of £2.8 billion. Badenoch noted that "you can't give people a first jobs bonus if they're not getting a first job," indicating the need to adapt the policy to current challenges.

The new proposal targets starter jobs, with the standard NI rate applying to earnings above £50,270. The party stated this measure would alleviate the abrupt increase in employer NI from 0% to the full rate when a worker turns 21.

Calls have been made for reductions in employer NI contributions for younger workers to stimulate job opportunities, as approximately one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment, or training.

When questioned why the proposed NI cut was not extended to all workers, Badenoch cited fiscal responsibility. "We have to find the money first," she explained. "So we have a golden economic rule. We are being fiscally credible. We find savings and then we spend it. If I could afford to cut it for everybody, I promise you that I would. But young people have a much worse problem than everybody else."