21-to-24 NI Cut: Badenoch Rules Out Deal With Reform UK

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she would rather see a second general election than negotiate a coalition with Reform UK if the next vote produces a hung Parliament, according to the BBC. Speaking as the party's Birmingham conference neared its close, Badenoch also pledged to halve employer National Insurance contributions for hiring workers aged 21 to 24, the BBC reported.

Why would Badenoch choose another election over a Reform UK deal?

Asked directly whether she would work with Reform in a hung Parliament, Badenoch told the BBC: "If you want Conservative, you have to vote Conservative. I have said we'd have another election if there was no overall majority." She described Reform as "neck deep in scandal," adding that a coalition "would just be one problem after another," per the BBC's reporting.

What happens if no party wins a majority at the next election?

Current polling cited by the BBC suggests a hung Parliament, with Labour projected as the largest party, followed by Reform and then the Conservatives. Badenoch said her own prediction is that a second election would follow "immediately" after such a result, though she stopped short of forecasting a Conservative win: "I'm not saying that we would win," she told the BBC's Chris Mason. Polling referenced in the same report put Conservative support at roughly one in five voters.

What is the National Insurance proposal for young hires?

Badenoch pledged to cut the cost of employing 21- to 24-year-olds by halving the rate of employer NI contributions for that age group, the BBC reported. She framed the move as part of a broader economic pitch that includes plans on borders, welfare, defense, and energy costs, telling the BBC: "I want to get this economy growing, I want to make the country richer."

What is the party's new 'Right Way' document?

Badenoch has published a 100-page document called The Right Way, setting out the party's principles, according to the BBC. She told Mason the move signals a return to "the authentic Conservative Party, that people knew and loved," as she works to distance the party from its 2024 general election defeat.

What scandals has Badenoch cited against Reform UK?

Badenoch pointed to two cases reported by the BBC. Dan Thomas resigned last month as Reform's leader in Wales after his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behavior; Thomas said he had "done nothing wrong." Separately, Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales, was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after admitting he took bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches, the BBC reported. The BBC also noted that Reform leader Nigel Farage has faced scrutiny over a £5 million gift from a billionaire donor received before he became an MP; Farage has said he did nothing wrong.

Timeline

• 2024: Conservatives suffer general election defeat, prompting a rebuilding effort under Badenoch.
• Recent weeks: Dan Thomas quits as Reform's Wales leader following his arrest.
• Prior to BBC interview: Nathan Gill sentenced to 10.5 years for bribery tied to pro-Russia remarks.
• This week: Badenoch publishes The Right Way and addresses the Birmingham conference, ruling out a Reform coalition and unveiling the NI pledge.

For the full interview and polling context, see the original BBC News report.

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