Kemi Badenoch opens the door to working more closely with Reform UK

KEMI Badenoch last night opened the door to working more closely with Reform.

The Tory leader denied having a “red line” over collaborating with Nigel Farage.

She told The Spectator: “I’ve always said we need to make sure we build a coalition of people who share our values.

“There are many people who vote Conservative who will not vote Reform.

“What I’m trying to do is maintain the coalition that we do have.”

It comes as Nigerian vice-president Kashim Shettima accused Ms Badenoch of denigrating his country, after she said of growing up in Lagos that “fear was everywhere”.

Nigel Farage is the favourite to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister at the next election - as he declared the Tories in “much deeper trouble” than they realise.

The Reform UK leader finds himself leading the pack to enter Downing Street, according to the latest odds.

He has edged ahead of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Labour number two Angela Rayner as the firm favourite, Ladbrokes say.

The odds have also dropped on Reform UK winning the most amount of seats to 9/4 having started on 16/1.

The Tories are currently in front when it comes to having the most seats at the next election with odds of 6/4 ahead of Labour on 7/4.