Two Tory MPs and a Conservative peer have been rallying members to block Reform UK from winning the next general election.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Harriet Cross, Aberdeen South MP Douglas Lumsden and Tory polling guru Lord Hayward joined former metro mayor Andy Street to discuss how to court Labour and Liberal Democrat voters ahead of the next general election.
Mr Lumsden, who insisted the Tories would not do a deal with Reform UK, said: “If we are the party in second place, then we are the ones that people will turn to if they want to stop Reform.”
The panel were united in the rejection of an alliance with Mr Farage, with Mr Street describing a deal as the “most stupid thing possible”.
The ex-West Midlands Mayor, who now leads the centrist Prosper UK pressure group, added: “It’s happening already… people voted Conservative to keep Reform out in the south of the borough [Solihull].”
Mr Street went on to argue financial prudence was the best way to win over voters who could tactically block Reform.
Meanwhile, Ms Cross highlighted the similarities between Unionist voters tactically voting for the Conservatives in Scotland.
“If you extend that down here, it is finding that touch point issue,” she said.
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“What is it in that seat, region or across the UK, that means when they are in the ballot box and they have the choice between the top two parties that they’re going to come to you.”
The quartet, who came together for a fringe event hosted by More in Common, rallied grassroots activists on how to pivot to the centre to reduce Mr Farage’s chances of winning the next election.
Lord Hayward said: “There is no doubt in my mind that the Conservatives in both Bromley and Bexley convinced other voters, Lib Dem and Labour voters, that it was going to be a Reform council in both unless they voted Conservative.”
He added: “There is a very strong message there: Get out there now your position as one of the top two parties.”
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street speaks to the media about HS2 during the Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central convention complex | PA
Members in attendance at the fringe event were advised to start deploying bar charts to demonstrate the Tories remain the main challenger to Reform UK.
Polling shared with the group also suggested economic competence could help win over voters in the so-called Blue Wall.
However, Lord Hayward questioned Andy Burnham’s decision to launch a commission into electoral reform.
He warned: “Personally, although I am no fan of Reform, it’s disgraceful to say we are going to change the electoral system to stop one political party winning.”
The Tories could win over progressive voters to stop Reform UK
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MORE IN COMMON
Ex-Tory MP Margot James, a prominent Remainer who had the whip removed after rebelling on Brexit under Boris Johnson, was also in the audience.
Former Justice Secretary David Gauke was also watching the event from a room next door as liberal-minded Tories gathered to strategise.
During the event, More in Common’s Luke Tryl shared new polling on tactical voting.
It showed 34 per cent of Tory voters would vote to block Labour, while 30 per cent would do the same for Reform UK.
Kemi Badenoch discussed Reform UK during a sit-down interview with GB News
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GB NEWS
The polling also revealed 30 per cent of Labour voters and 37 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters would tactically back a Conservative candidate to stop Reform UK.
Speaking to GB News yesterday, Kemi Badenoch doubled down on her claim about no deal with Mr Farage by revealing Tory defectors would not be able to return to the Tory fold.
She said: “I want Reform voters to come back to us.
“The people in Reform as politicians, the MPs, especially the ones who left our party, are people who just cause problems.”
However, some Conservatives want to Unite the Right, including ex-frontbencher Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.