Kemi Badenoch rules out ‘weak’ pact with Reform to humiliate Andy Burnham: ‘I’m not playing games!’

Kemi Badenoch has ruled out joining forces with Reform UK to defeat Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.

Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party leader insisted it “didn’t matter” who won the seat, which the Tories have not won “in my lifetime”.

Host Camilla Tominey was keen to find out if Mrs Badenoch would lend her support to Nigel Farage’s party if her own chances were so slim.

“If Reform beats Andy Burnham in that seat, Burnham is finished. Could you work with Reform on this one to ensure that the left is defeated in Makerfield?”

“I'm not playing games, Camilla,” the Tory leader responded.

“If the people of Makerfield want Andy Burnham, they're going to vote for Andy Burnham.

“Pretending that if I start doing some deals, all that shows is weakness on my part.

“It doesn't matter whether he wins or a Reform person wins; we still have Keir Starmer."

Mrs Badenoch continued: “The people of Makerfield, I'm afraid to say, are the ones who are in a bad place.

“The thing that this election is going to be about is Keir Starmer or Andy Burnham, and there are people there who just want all of this nonsense to end,” she said.

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