Headline: Kemi Badenoch Rules Out Reform UK Deal in a Hung Parliament

Date: 7 October 2026

Tags: UK Politics, Conservatives, Reform UK, Economy

Summary:

• Kemi Badenoch says she would prefer another general election rather than form a government with Reform UK.

• She said this position would apply if no party secured an overall majority at the next election.

• Badenoch accused Reform of being “neck deep in scandal” and said cooperation would create further problems.

• She said Conservatives should seek to win back voters who have switched to Nigel Farage’s party.

• Badenoch acknowledged current polling points towards a hung parliament but argued the Conservatives could still win.

• She also announced plans to halve employer National Insurance contributions for workers aged 21 to 24.

• Employer contributions for that age group would fall from 15% to 7.5%, targeting entry-level employment.

• The Conservatives have replaced their previous £2.8bn-a-year “First Job Bonus” proposal with the National Insurance policy.

• Badenoch said economic growth would become the central organising principle of a future Conservative government.

• Labour described the National Insurance proposal as “fantasy economics” and criticised the Conservatives’ record on youth employment.

Why this matters: Badenoch is ruling out a potential route to government with Reform while attempting to win back its voters and differentiate the Conservatives from Labour.

What’s next: The Conservatives will continue setting out their economic programme as they seek to improve their position ahead of the next general election, due by August 2029.