KEMI BADENOCH took the first tentative steps towards agreement with the hard-right Reform party today.

The Tory leader green-lighted local deals by Tory councillors to take control of councils in partnership with Nigel Farage’s supporters.

Ms Badenoch claimed that she still ruled out a national deal with Reform to unite the right-wing, but local pacts will be a clear stepping stone towards some type of agreement.

Most opinion polls now show Reform leading the Tories, and sometimes Labour too. 

It is estimated that the split between the two right-wing parties might have handed Labour as many as 100 seats at last year’s general election.

Tory strategists fear that, despite Labour’s polling slump, that outcome could be repeated at the next election in the absence of any deal with Reform.

Ms Badenoch has moved the Tories rightwards since her election as leader, striking Trump-style culture war poses. 

The Conservatives are braced for major losses in May’s local elections, which could destabilise her fragile leadership.

Many Tories fear that shifting in a Reform direction could leave them exposed to defections to the Liberal Democrats on their other flank.

Mr Farage meanwhile has ruled out any agreements with the Tories and is instead looking to replace them as the main party on the right.

Ms Badenoch said: “Local leaders are voted by the people in a particular community.

“They will have to make the choice about what is right for their councils.

“But at national level, no, I was not made leader of the Conservative Party to give it away to Reform.”

She added that local Tories needed only to “stick to Conservative principles” such as “sound money” and “not excessive government intervention.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the remarks showed that “the Conservatives and Reform have merged in all but name under her leadership.

“You couldn’t put a cigarette paper between Badenoch and Farage when it comes to their policies.

“It’s clear the Conservatives have totally abandoned the centre ground.”

And Labour chair Ellie Reeves said:  “Now it’s crystal clear: if you vote Reform or Conservative, you’re opening the door to more of the Tory chaos that held our country back over the past 14 years.

“Kemi Badenoch and her Conservative Party left our NHS at breaking point and Nigel Farage wants to make patients pay for healthcare when they’re sick.

“Just imagine what they’d do together.”

Nigel Farage rebuffed the Tory leader, saying Reform has no intention in forming coalitions with the Tories at any level because “the Tories broke Britain nationally for 14 years.”