Nigel Farage has written to every Tory county councillor facing re-election urging them to defect to Reform UK.
The Clacton MP emailed all 1,352 Conservative councillors up for re-election in May 2025 explaining the “risk they face” if they stand for the Conservative Party against Reform, describing the offer as a “lifeline”.
Mr Farage told the councillors to join colleagues that have already defected to Reform in areas where his insurgent party performed well at July’s general election.
He appeared to suggest that the offer stood regardless of who the Tories chose to be their next leader, writing that the choice was between a leader that’s undergone a “damascene political conversion” and one who “won’t leave” the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The move is the latest attempt by Mr Farage to weaken the Conservative Party by splitting the centre-Right vote in constituencies across the country.
Despite winning only five seats in July’s election, Reform came second in 98 constituencies by eating into Tory vote shares, making them a significant threat to the party in numerous constituencies.
Mr Farage said: “The Conservative Party is a busted flush – these 1352 councillors are watching their time in office tick away, whilst they argue between themselves on whether to choose a leader that’s undergone a damascene political conversion and someone who won’t leave the ECHR.
“I urge any Conservative Party councillors who believe in their country and share our values to join Reform UK as we build on the extraordinary inroads we made at the general election.”
Reform currently has only 28 councillors.
Mr Farage has repeatedly ruled out doing a deal with the Tories, writing in the Telegraph earlier this month: “Reform is here to stay. The Tories had their chance and they blew it.
“All talk of whether a future deal between me and the Conservatives can be done is irrelevant. It is not even on my agenda, I simply don’t trust them.”
Both Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick have equally opposed doing a deal with Reform.
Ms Badenoch said she could “face off” the threat from Mr Farage and Mr Jenrick said he wanted to “put Reform out of business” by having clear policies on legal and illegal migration.
A Conservative spokesman said: “Reform has delivered a Labour government that has cruelly cut winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners and is now preparing to raise taxes despite all their promises not to. A vote for Reform this coming May is a vote for a Labour council.”
