Tory MP backs Badenoch's 'monstrous' Reform coalition remark
Shadow minister Mike Wood defends Kemi Badenoch's refusal to count a Reform pact, arguing the Conservatives offer a clear alternative to Labour and Reform.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Kemi Badenoch's description of a future coalition with Reform UK as "monstrous" has been defended by a shadow cabinet minister, who insisted the Conservative Party was the only credible alternative to a Labour-led government.
Mike Wood, the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister and Conservative MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, was interviewed on GB News after Badenoch made the remark at the Edinburgh Fringe. He dismissed the idea that the party would need a deal with Reform, saying the answer was "a Conservative government that's got a clear plan" on the economy, borders, and other national challenges.
When pressed on whether a pact might be necessary given current polling, Wood pointed out there was no election this week and argued the party's job was to persuade voters to back a Conservative majority. He contrasted this with what he called the "progressive alliance" of Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Greens, which he said was "clearly not the answer."
Wood also criticised Reform, claiming they did not have credible answers on borders, the economy, services, or welfare. He said Labour had shown it had no plan when it entered government, whereas the Conservative Party under Badenoch had a plan to tackle real challenges.
The interview touched on fears that the right is divided, with Wood acknowledging the frustration of voters but focusing instead on attacking the current Labour-led government, which he said was being propped up by a progressive alliance. He defended the Conservative approach of ruling out electoral coalitions before an election, saying it was not a good idea to talk about such deals prematurely.
The comments underline the continuing tensions between the Conservative and Reform parties, with Badenoch seeking to position her party as the main right-of-centre alternative while Reform seeks to lure disaffected voters.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| A Labour-Liberal-Green coalition was reported as not an acceptable alternative. | |
| Reform Party was reported to lack credible answers to the country's challenges. | |
| The Conservative Party's goal was reported to be a majority, with electoral pacts not to be discussed before an election. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The interview focused on defending Kemi Badenoch's rejection of a Reform coalition, with the shadow minister using the platform to attack both Reform and the Labour-led government. The tone was partisan, criticising Reform as lacking credible answers while arguing the Conservatives offer a clear plan. The interviewer challenged the viability of a Conservative government without a pact, but Wood reframed the issue around a potential 'progressive alliance'.
- “she said a coalition with reform would be monstrous. What, more monstrous than four more years of labour or a progressive alliance?”
- “the answer is a Conservative government that's got a clear plan both to get the economy back on its feet”
- “reform don't have the answers to that”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.