Less than half the voters of either party would support folding the Conservatives and Reform UK into one
A merger of the Conservatives and Reform UK into a single right-wing party has been floated since before the last general election, as a solution to the two parties supposedly splitting the ‘right-wing vote’. The idea has received renewed focus in recent weeks, after shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said he wanted to “unite the right” and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said there will have to be a ‘coming together’ of the two before the next election.
But it’s still an idea that divides supporters of both parties, with those who backed the Conservatives last July split 43% to 39% on whether they support or oppose a merger, while 2024 Reform UK voters are opposed to the proposals by a margin of 49% to 39%.
Reform UK have, however, gained in the polls since the election, adding new voters, particularly from the Conservatives. While current Reform UK voters are a little more positive about a proposed merger, it is still just 45% who would favour a unified right-wing party, while a similar 43% are opposed to the idea.
Correspondingly, current Conservatives are a little less supportive of a merger than those who voted for the party last year, with just 38% in favour of a coming together of the two right-wing parties, relative to 45% who are opposed.
Appetite for a merger has not grown in recent months, with the 39% of 2024 Reform UK voters currently in favour virtually unchanged from the 38% supportive in January, while the proportion of 2024 Conservatives in favour has fallen back from 47% to 43%.
See the full results here
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