Three by-elections this week have exposed how progressive parties have been able to sneak wins at the expense of Reform UK and the Tories.
Mid-term contests across Berkshire, Cheshire and Hertfordshire have shown how the Greens and the Liberal Democrats have been able to pose a threat to the right-wing vote, which remains divided.
In Hemel Hempstead’s Apsley & Corner Hall, the Liberal Democrats were victorious in their bid to bat off rivals with some 33 per cent of the vote.
However, with the Tories on 18 per cent and Reform UK on 25 per cent, a joint ticket on the right could allow an easy 10 per cent point lead for the blue parties.
And, in Cippenham Green in Slough, the Greens were able to sneak a win with a mere five votes at the ballot box, booting out the Tories from their long-held seat.
The Conservative Party lost 19.9 per cent of their vote, while Reform UK picked up 19.5 per cent of local support.
Together, with almost 40 per cent of the vote, the right-wing vote would annihilate the Green Party’s 24 per cent vote share.
In Christleton & Huntington (Cheshire West & Chester), the Conservatives were able to cling on to their seat with 32.9 per cent of the vote share – despite the Greens hot on their heels with 30.4 per cent.
Tories have encouraged Mr Farage and Mrs Badenoch to put their differences aside
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Again, with Reform UK’s extra 17.2 per cent of the vote, the blues would catapult Zack Polanski’s party out of the ward.
The day before the mid-term contests, the most senior backbench Conservative MP in the House of Commons told Mr Farage and Mrs Badenoch to unite the right to stop “an even more left-wing Government” winning power after the next election.
Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House of Commons, said most Conservative MPs wanted the pair to join forces to squash support for the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour.
He told GB News’ Christopher Hope: “My appeal to you, Nigel and Kemi, is to realise that our policies are almost exactly the same.
COULD BRITAIN UNITE THE RIGHT? READ MORE:
Mrs Badenoch called claims she wanted to settle a deal with Mr Farage ‘b******t’
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PA“Under a first-past-the-post system, unless we have some sort of alliance, as night follows day, Kemi and Nigel, there will be an even more left-wing Government.
“So let’s work together and be nice to each other, stop criticising each other and realise that we agree on virtually everything.”
Sir Edward, who faces a huge threat from Reform UK in his Gainsborough seat, said that right-wing parties had to get organised, as the left will do all they can to keep Reform UK out of power.
However, just hours before the public plea, Mrs Badenoch slammed the accusation that the two right-wing parties could be up for making a deal.
The Conservative leader claimed it was “b******t” that she had even hinted at doing a deal with the Reform UK chief after an interview with The Spectator.
During the interview with Tim Shipman, Mrs Badenoch said: “This country cannot have another left-wing Government. But, I’m afraid, Reform has quite a lot of left-wing ideas.”
However, Mrs Badenoch was a lot clearer on her stance on a pre-election pact with Mr Farage.
“On deals, non-aggression pacts, and so on, these things do end up failing apart anyway,” she said. “I just say, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.”