John Major Ex-PM warns against pact with Farage

John Major has warned the Conservatives that forming an alliance with Reform UK would “forever destroy” the party, which had already left traditional backers politically homeless by lurching “too far to the right”.

- Pippa Crerar Political editor

The former prime minister dismissed the idea of a pact with Nigel Farage’s party as “beyond stupid”, and said any Tories tempted to defect to Reform should go now, as his party would be “better off without them”.

As the Tories struggle with the existential threat posed by Reform, Major said “far more is at stake” than the future of the party.

“Frustration with democracy should not blind us to the toxic nature of nationalism - or any and every form of populist or authoritarian government,” he added as he addressed a Conservative party lunch yesterday.