Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson (Image: DX)
Nigel Farage is prepared to work with Boris Johnson to turf Labour out of government, it has been reported.
Sources close to the Reform UK leader said he would consider a pact with the former Prime Minister “in the national interest”.
Based on current polling, a Reform/Tory “mega party” would thrash Sir Keir Starmer who is shedding votes in an unprecedented post-election collapse in support.
Kemi Badenoch has publicly ruled out any negotiations with Reform, but some senior Tories have urged closer ties.
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Robert Jenrick (Image: PA)
Kemi Badenoch (Image: -)
It is understood that allies of Mr Farage and the former Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick met last week at the In and Out private members’ club in Mayfair for informal discussions about “uniting the right”.
With the Conservatives languishing in third place in some polls, sources told the Mail on Sunday said that Mr Farage could “set aside ego” to serve in a combined operation.
They highlighted the Brexit campaign of 2016, when Mr Johnson campaigned for the same cause as Mr Farage but in a separate and self-contained fashion.
Crucially, they stressed that if Reform maintains a strong poll lead Mr Farage would expect to be in a position to dictate terms.
These would include abandoning net zero targets and following President Trump’s example by appointing high-profile figures – as Mr Trump did with X’s Elon Musk – to run slimmed-down Government departments from the Lords.
A deal could be in the form of a non-aggression pact at elections, a coalition similar to that of the Liberals and SDP in the 1980s or a full merger.
Jobs for Mr Farage after an election victory could include Chancellor.
A source told the newspaper: “Nigel is convinced the Tories can’t win, and the future of the Right will be decided now.
“He showed in the Brexit campaign that he can set aside ego for the wider good, but was burned in 2019 when he stood down candidates at the election only for Boris to betray Brexit.
“If Boris returns as leader there would have to be clear agreement on key matters.”
According to some bookmakers, Mr Farage is favourite to be the next PM, followed by Ms Badenoch, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Mr Johnson.
Mr Johnson’s friends say the former PM believes the Tories can succeed only by re-establishing their own distinct identity, philosophy and policies – not by aping those of other parties like Reform.
They add that his “red line” would be remaining a member of the Conservative Party. According to one: “Boris would never defect. But the Brexit campaign could be a model for the future if the Tories’ fortunes do not revive.”
As part of their drive for power, Reform strategists are aiming to raise the party’s support to match Mr Farage’s personal approval rating of 32 per cent.
An Electoral Calculus poll published at the weekend had Reform on 24 per cent, with Labour and the Tories level on 23 per cent.
That would put the Conservatives on 178 seats, Reform on 175 and Labour on 174 – giving a unified mega party a total of 353 shared MPs.
The leak of support to Reform in Labour’s traditional working-class heartlands is so pronounced that in May’s local elections Reform are planning to warn that “a vote for the Tories is a vote for Labour”.
Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and the Idea of a ‘Mega Party’
The prospect of Farage working alongside Boris Johnson has previously featured in discussions about whether the British right could unite around a common political project.
In February 2025, reports suggested that some senior Conservatives wanted Badenoch and Farage to explore closer cooperation, with Johnson mentioned as a possible figure in a wider effort to challenge Labour. The argument was that a divided centre-right could struggle to translate its combined support into parliamentary seats. <Cite refs={[“turn704575youtube7”]} />
But an idea discussed by political commentators and party figures is not the same as an agreed plan. There is no confirmed Reform-Conservative mega party involving Johnson.
The political circumstances have also changed since those discussions. In October 2026, Badenoch publicly rejected a pact with Reform, while Farage said that an agreement before the next general election was extremely unlikely but did not rule out cooperation after an election. <Cite refs={[“turn704575search1″,”turn704575search3”]} />
Johnson’s potential role would also raise questions about leadership and the Conservative record in government. While his supporters point to Brexit and the Conservatives’ 2019 election victory, his critics highlight the controversies that ultimately contributed to his resignation.
A new alliance would need to decide not only who could join but also who would lead, which policies would take priority and how the parties would resolve their differences.
The Obstacles to a Political Merger
A formal merger would be considerably more complicated than an electoral pact.
Reform has built its appeal partly around challenging the established political parties. The Conservatives, meanwhile, have a long-standing organisation, elected representatives, local associations and a distinct history of government. Bringing the two together would require decisions about party membership, candidate selection, funding, leadership and policy.
Some Conservative supporters might welcome a unified political movement. Others could regard a merger as an abandonment of the party’s independent identity. Reform supporters could similarly object if they believed the movement was becoming an extension of the Conservatives rather than an alternative to them.
Johnson’s involvement would not automatically settle these disagreements. His name recognition could draw attention to a proposed alliance, but it could also revive divisions over his premiership and the previous Conservative government’s record.
The question is therefore not simply whether Farage and Johnson could cooperate. It is whether their political interests and those of their supporters could be reconciled within a common organisation.
Why the Debate Matters
The discussion about a mega party reflects a wider uncertainty about the future of British politics.
Labour, the Conservatives and Reform are competing in an environment where voters have become less predictable and where traditional party loyalties are under pressure. Under first-past-the-post, competition between parties with overlapping support can influence constituency outcomes, giving some politicians a reason to advocate cooperation.
But the electoral consequences of a pact are not guaranteed. Some voters may welcome coordination, while others may reject it. The effect would vary by constituency, candidate and campaign.
For now, the available evidence points to continued disagreement rather than an imminent merger. Badenoch has rejected an alliance, Farage has left open the possibility of a post-election arrangement, and the idea of Johnson joining a combined political movement remains speculative.
Any future agreement would need to be judged on its actual terms: its leadership structure, policy commitments, funding arrangements and accountability to voters.
The debate over a Reform-Tory mega party is therefore a question about political strategy, not a confirmed development. Whether the right remains divided or finds a way to cooperate will depend on decisions that have yet to be made.