I Do Not Support Local Coalitions With Reform – Guido Fawkes

Badenoch: I Do Not Support Local Coalitions With Reform

The longtime line from Badenoch was: no deals with Reform. This morning the Tory leader said of local coalition agreements with Reform:

“I’ve seen Conservatives go into coalition with Labour, with Liberal Democrats, with Independents. You don’t get to have a rerun of an election at local level, so what I’m telling local leaders across the country (is) they have to do what is right for the people in their local area.”

She added Tories would need to “stick to Conservative principles” like “sound money” and “not excessive government intervention.” Since then Farage said “Reform have no intention in forming coalitions with the Tories at any level.” Asked to clarify things by reporters this afternoon, Badenoch said:

“I’m not supporting coalitions at a local level. I am leaving the decision to local leaders… I’ve just been elected leader of the Conservative party, the party’s under new leadership. We’re trying to rebuild trust with the public suddenly saying that we’re rushing to form a pact or merge with another party is not what I was elected to do, and I don’t think it’s what the public want they want to know what the Conservative offer is.”

It’s confused messaging at best. The wink wink nudge nudge approach not doing Tories any favours…