Tory mayor floats idea of potential Reform coalition

THE Tees Valley mayor has floated the idea of a potential Tory coalition with Reform UK - depending on the results of the next general election.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

Ben Houchen was quizzed on Sunday, following an interview with Politico, in which he had spoken of the necessity of a “coming together” of Reform UK and the Conservatives in some form, saying it would be the “best thing for the country”. He didn’t give specific detail on what such a merger would look like but floated the possibility of a coalition, or pact.

Conservative mayor Lord Houchen was a guest on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg when he spoke about the Tories’ prospects in the upcoming local elections on May 1, as well as the leadership of the Conservative Party and the threats and potential solutions of Reform UK.

The Labour Party responded to Lord Houchen’s appearance on the show, arguing that the Conservative Party is trying to use Reform to “sneak in by the back door”. Reform UK have repeatedly said that they are not in the business of making deals with the Conservative Party.