Senior Tory and Reform figures may be flirting with the idea of uniting rightwing parties at the next election to see off Labour, but there is little appetite for a formal merger between the parties, a new poll suggests today.
A survey of those who voted for the parties in 2024, and those who plan to vote for them now, found lukewarm support for them joining forces fully.
Just 45 per cent of current Reform UK voters would support a merger of the party with the Conservatives, while 43 per cent are opposed to the idea.
And support is even lower among current Tories, with 38 per cent in favour, with 45 per cent opposed.
In addition, the proportion of 2024 Conservative voters in favour of a merger has fallen from 47 per cent to 43 per cent since January.
The two parties are vying for votes in tomorrow’s local elections as campaigning enters its final day.
Both leaders, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, have ruled out doing deals to win power, but are being dogged by claims that other parts of their parties are interested in a link up.
Campaigning for the local elections has entered a frantic final 24 hours as a poll showed Reform on track to win most votes.
Politicians are out knocking on doors ahead of the contests in England, with the Tories and Labour trying to quell a surge by Nigel Farage’s party.
Some 23 local authorities, six mayoralties and the Commons seat of Runcorn & Helsby are up for grabs tomorrow.
Research by More in Common found that Reform ahead overall in the battlegrounds, with 26 per cent support. The Conservatives – defending many traditional heartlands last balloted at Boris Johnson’s peak in 2021 – were second on 25 per cent.
Labour had 18 per cent backing, the Lib Dems 17 per cent, and the Greens 8 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Runcorn by-election looks to be on a knife edge, with Keir Starmer trying to stop Reform from seizing it – although he has been mocked for failing to campaign there personally.
The premier will have one last chance to get his message across to the country at PMQs this lunchtime.
Kemi Badenoch’s party is braced to lose 500 councillors in a grim sign of the slump in Tory fortunes.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that Labour might not make any progress despite coming from a very low base – after suffering the worst poll plunge for any newly-elected government.
In a sign of Labour nerves, party chair Ellie Reeves has accused the Conservatives of ‘gifting’ Reform victory in Runcorn by not campaigning there.
A debate on Channel 4 News last night saw clashes between representatives from the five main parties.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed criticised Reform London Assembly member Alex Wilson over his history as a Tory party member and councillor.