https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/badenoch-green-lights-local-reform-pacts

KEMI BADENOCH took the first tentative steps towards agreement with the hard-right Reform party today.

The Tory leader green-lighted local deals by Tory councillors to take control of councils in partnership with Nigel Farage’s supporters.

Ms Badenoch claimed that she still ruled out a national deal with Reform to unite the right-wing, but local pacts will be a clear stepping stone towards some type of agreement.

Most opinion polls now show Reform leading the Tories, and sometimes Labour too.

It is estimated that the split between the two right-wing parties might have handed Labour as many as 100 seats at last year’s general election.

Tory strategists fear that, despite Labour’s polling slump, that outcome could be repeated at the next election in the absence of any deal with Reform.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/badenoch-green-lights-local-reform-pacts