Tory-Reform pact talks 'not happening at any level', says Richard Tice

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has told Sky News that talks of an electoral pact with the Tories "are not happening at any level".

The Financial Times (FT) quoted unnamed sources who said Nigel Farage had told donors he believes an agreement between both parties is inevitable.

The newspaper said this indicates "he does not believe he can sweep to power alone" - and illustrates the challenge of turning political momentum into high office.

However, Mr Tice told Sky News' Politics Hub with Ali Fortescue that this was "fake news".

Asked if he would be open to a pact, he said: "No. The only thing that the Tories need to do is to recognise that they've had their time after a couple of hundred years - they've blown it, and they should step aside and let Reform take on and defeat the hard socialists and the communists that seem to be on the left side of politics now."

Some Reform supporters have expressed concern that both parties could end up fighting over the same seats, splitting the right-wing vote and benefitting Labour.

Others are worried about the first past the post system, which means candidates with the most votes win a constituency - even if they fail to secure a majority.

Reform UK received 4.1 million votes in 2024, making it the third-most popular party, but won just five seats out of 650.

Mr Tice insisted that his party are now leading the polls by enough of a margin to secure a majority in the Commons.

It was put to him that he should level with supporters that talks are happening at some level, but he said: "We are [being honest], and they're not happening at any level, and they won't happen at any level."

However, he refused to say if Reform would enter into a pact with the Tories if not doing so would leave Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Despite Reform welcoming some former Tory MPs into its fold, Mr Tice also insisted that "most of the parliamentary Conservative Party are really sort of, they're more towards the Lib Dems - they don't agree with our policies".

He added that the story last night in the Financial Times was "either made up in the imagination of the journalist or in the imagination of maybe a couple of donors who wanted to hear something different from what they actually heard", branding it "fake news".

Farage: A deal would cost us votes

The FT report suggested Mr Farage would only agree to a deal on his terms because he felt betrayed after a pact made with the Tories in 2019, when his Brexit Party helped hand Boris Johnson victory.

But the Reform leader denied these rumours - and declared "the Conservatives will no longer be a national party" after the local elections in May 2026 anyway.

He said: "I would never do a deal with a party I don't trust. No deals, just a reverse takeover.

"A deal with them as they are would cost us votes."

A Tory spokesman also warned that no deals or pacts will be considered under Kemi Badenoch's leadership.

He added: "Reform want higher welfare spending and to cosy up to Putin. Only the Conservatives have the team, the plan, and the backbone to deliver."

The latest YouGov opinion poll suggests support for Reform UK is at 26% - with Labour and the Tories deadlocked on 19% each.

Reform's momentum has led about 20 former Tory MPs to defect, including Boris Johnson ally Nadine Dorries.

However, figures suggest the Conservatives have the upper hand when it comes to donations - receiving three times more cash than Reform in the first half of 2025.

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One Reform donor told the FT: "They will have to come together. The Conservatives have been a successful political party forever because the left was always divided … If the right is divided, it can't win."

A Labour Party spokesperson was equally scathing of both parties - claiming the Conservatives broke public services, and Reform would make "savage" spending cuts.

"This shady backroom plot will send a shiver down the spine of people up and down the country, and shows you simply can't trust Nigel Farage," they added.

(c) Sky News 2025: Tory-Reform pact talks 'not happening at any level', says Richard Tice