There is no escaping the stark reality that now confronts us. Labour sits smugly atop a mountain of 172 seats—more than enough to run riot with their agenda—despite having secured just 33% of the vote.
They are riding high not because the British public is enamoured with their policies or their leadership, but because the right has fractured, splintered, and, quite frankly, lost its way. The result? A divided right has handed Labour the keys to Number 10, and it’s up to us to make sure this never happens again.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Labour’s overwhelming majority is not a reflection of enthusiasm for their tired brand of socialism. The 2024 election was not some grand endorsement of Labour’s socialist agenda; it was a vote to oust the Conservatives, plain and simple. The voters wanted change, but what they’ve got now is the dawning realisation that they’ve bought a rusty old banger instead of the sleek new model they thought they were getting. Many are already feeling the sting of buyers’ remorse, as the promises of Labour unravel before our eyes.
But this, dear readers, is the true consequence of a divided right. Labour did not win because of their strength; they won because of our weakness. While the right was busy tripping over itself, competing for the same slice of the electorate, Labour quietly slipped through the middle. As Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg rightly put it, we now need an audacious plan if we have any hope of reclaiming power in 2029. And that plan must be nothing short of a full and frank coalition between the Conservatives and Reform UK.
As Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg rightly put it, we now need an audacious plan if we have any hope of reclaiming power in 2029. And that plan must be nothing short of a full and frank coalition between the Conservatives and Reform UK.
And I agree, we must unite before the next election. Let me put it plainly: the right cannot afford to split the vote again. The stakes are too high, and the math is unassailable. There are 98 seats across this country where the Reform Party is in second place, while Labour is in second place in 89 of those same seats. Every vote we split between ourselves is a gift to the Labour Party, allowing them to march ahead with their majority intact. If we are serious about pursuing a conservative agenda in this country, the only path forward is to reunite the right.
Now, some may scoff at the idea of a coalition with Reform UK, but let’s be clear—this is not a time for political pride or stubbornness. This is a time for pragmatism. The Conservatives must form a majority government in 2029, and if that means forming a coalition to get there, then so be it. Reform UK holds sway in critical areas, and we cannot simply wish them away. They represent a significant portion of the right-wing vote, and we need that vote on our side if we are to dislodge Labour from power.
The Conservatives currently hold a meagre 121 seats, a mere shadow of what is needed to form a government. The arithmetic is clear: we need 325 seats to secure a majority, and we are nowhere near that target on our own. But if we are willing to forge an alliance, we stand a chance of overturning Labour’s bloated majority. The road to victory will be hard-fought, but it is far from impossible if we make the right moves and at least start the conversation now.
To succeed, Sir Jacob says we must offer Reform UK a comprehensive deal. He proposes standing aside in the 89 seats where Labour is in second place, along with the five seats Reform UK has already won.
A coalition government, combining the strengths of both the Conservatives and Reform, would offer the best of both worlds: the stability and experience of a Conservative-led government, coupled with the dynamism, bravery, and fresh ideas that Reform brings to key battlegrounds.
A coalition government, combining the strengths of both the Conservatives and Reform, would offer the best of both worlds: the stability and experience of a Conservative-led government, coupled with the dynamism, bravery, and fresh ideas that Reform brings to key battlegrounds.
Make no mistake, Labour’s majority is not insurmountable. They are sitting on a fragile base, supported by voters who were more interested in getting rid of the Tories than in endorsing Labour’s uninspiring policies. Their hold on power is tenuous, and with each passing day, their lack of vision will become ever more apparent. But we cannot simply wait for Labour to implode under the weight of their own mediocrity. We must act. We must reunite the right, or risk handing Labour another term, and we must start now.
In 2029, we have a chance to correct the mistakes of 2024. But to do that, we need a unified front. The vote on the right must no longer be divided. The Conservatives and Reform must come together to form a coalition, a partnership that will lead this country back to the principles of sound governance, economic stability, and national pride. If we fail to unite, if we allow personal egos and petty rivalries to stand in the way of what is right for this country, then we will have no one to blame but ourselves when Labour tightens its grip on power.
Let’s not dither, and let’s certainly not delay. We must actively pursue a coalition with Reform UK—not just for the party, but for the good of the country and the future of conservative values in Britain. The clock is already ticking, and it’s time for the Conservatives to start building bridges, not walls, with Reform UK. We cannot, and must not, allow Labour to win again.
Claire Bullivant, Editor
Claire is the founder and editor of the Conservative Post and was a co-founder of the Conservative Democratic Organisation. Claire is now setting up www.GreatBritishPAC.com. Pre-register today.
