Tories urged not to ‘panic’ into uniting with Reform or removing Badenoch

Conservative MPs have spoken of rumours about ‘regicide’ of Kemi Badenoch by submitting letters of no confidence if the results next week are a wipeout. Photograph: House of Commons/PA

Senior Conservatives have warned colleagues against “bloody panic”, urging them not to consider doing deals with Reform or removing Kemi Badenoch as leader, as the party braces for a disastrous set of local election results.

Two former cabinet ministers warned against changing direction regardless of the result next Friday, with Andrew Mitchell saying “talk of deals with Reform is misplaced” and John Glen arguing Badenoch must not be “pushed off course”.