'Ludicrous!' Andrea Jenkyns slaps down reports of Reform merger as she accuses Tories of 'planting' story

Reform leader Nigel Farage has also taken to social media to dismiss reports that he "told potential donors that he would do a deal with the Tory party in the run up to election to try to ensure victory".

Rebutting the claims on X, Mr Farage categorically denied the claims, stating: "A false story in the FT tonight claims Reform would do a deal with the Tories. After 14 years of dishonesty and lies, they should never be forgiven. The idea I'd work with them is ludicrous."

Also dismissing the reports, Mrs Jenkyns told GB News: "I completely agree with Nigel. Isn't it funny how they don't name who this donor is?

"I was in the whip's office and I saw how stories can get planted from whip's offices and press teams to try and actually put pressure on opposition parties, and this is what I believe is happening here."

Confirming that such a deal has "never been discussed" on the Reform board, she added: "We're going to get lots of this as we get nearer to the election and as we get nearer, it looks like Nigel's going to get into No10. So this is I think personally a planted story.

"I'm on the Reform board, and this has never been discussed. We do not need the Conservative Party and it's quite ludicrous. Why would we get into bed with a party who is so far behind in the polls?"

Questioned by host Andrew Pierce on when the parties could potentially merge to block a Labour win, he pressed Mrs Jenkyns: "What if the polls narrowed? Nobody in Reform will want to see the Tory and Reform candidates split the vote and let Labour come through the middle.

"Is that when there could potentially be a pact?"

She responded: "I came on your show before the general election last year, and at the time, I was Conservative and I wanted to see a pact. I thought it was the only way to stop the Labour majority.

"But having been on the inside of Reform, in my election alone, we was pulling votes from both Labour and the Conservatives, and that's quite unheard of. I think the last time anybody did that was Margaret Thatcher. Now Reform are pulling from Labour and the Conservatives.

"I had farmers helping me, I had the coastal areas, and traditional Labour towns of Scunthorpe, I had a good support there, so we do not need them. We are ahead of the polls and I believe that will continue."

Taking aim at Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, the Reform Mayor claimed she "shouldn't have needed a year" for her to find her feet as party leader.

Mrs Jenkyns explained: "After 14 years of the Conservatives I left, because I actually thought that we didn't do a good enough job. We was never Conservative enough.

"And I think just because Kemi has one good time at the despatch box - let's not forget she was a minister for several years, she shouldn't have needed a year to find her feet.

"She's been at the dispatch box so many times that I don't think that the Conservatives are going to go much further ahead in the polls."

Grilled by Andrew on whether she believes Reform voters would feel "betrayed" if a pact did take place, Mrs Jenkyns said: "Yes, absolutely, and this is why we need to be careful of any defections.

"We're going to be very choosy of who we take because, let's face it, we don't want to be Conservatives mark two, we want to be far better, far stronger and come up with really strong policies that's going to save Britain. Now the momentum in terms of the polling is clearly with Reform."

Quizzed on Reform UK's donors, she concluded: "You do get certain funding when you have an opposition party, so if we're talking about funding, I've never had so much support.

"I was a marginal seat under the Conservatives for nine years, and you get very little support. Now my election was fully funded, we've got a war chest for the upcoming Welsh elections, we're doing pretty good.

"But let's not forget Conservative HQ, they've lost their main offices, they've had to downsize, they've had to close a regional office in Leeds, they've got rid of a lot of staff.

"So what it looks like on paper doesn't necessarily mean that they're fully operational. Reform UK, the head office is thriving, it's growing. So I think proof's in the pudding actually."