Here’s a rewritten version of the article:
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‘No Pact — But a Possibility’
When pressed for details, he responded: “No one can truly predict — and I’m not going to try — what the shape of that relationship should be. Whether it ends up as a coalition, a merger between Reform and the Conservative Party, a supply and confidence arrangement, or something different entirely.”
He emphasized the need for realism: “At some point, a practical decision will have to be made. As a Conservative, I believe the coming years will be incredibly difficult for the country. Things are likely to get worse before they get better.”
He continued, “If you want mature, center-right politicians to cooperate — and if conditions don’t improve — and it becomes clear the right is split down the middle, then uniting could have secured a strong parliamentary majority. In that case, conversations and decisions will have to happen in the coming years.”
“What that eventual partnership will look like, I can’t say. But some form of collaboration between the Conservatives and Reform would be in the country’s best interest.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who received a peerage from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2023, made clear that he remains committed to the Conservative Party. This sets him apart from former colleagues such as Greater Lincolnshire mayoral hopeful Andrea Jenkyns, who recently switched allegiance to Reform.
Reform UK is expected to make significant local gains in the upcoming English local elections, potentially securing several mayoral positions and hundreds of council seats. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are bracing for widespread losses, especially in areas they dominated during the peak of the Covid crisis in 2021.
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