A top Tory has refused to rule out a "dodgy backroom deal" with ahead of the next general election.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick suggested that the Reform UK boss could be the sticking point in a future merger. The right-winger, , is tipped as a leadership contender as Kemi Badenoch's popularity plummets.

Asked by whether the Tories and Reform could agree a pact ahead of the next , Mr Jenrick said: “Reform themselves are saying they don’t want to. Reform has said repeatedly they have no intention of doing this. Kemi has said she has no intention."

But he declined to explicitly rule out such an agreement. A spokesperson said: “The cat is out the bag: the Tories won’t rule out doing a dodgy backroom deal with Reform.

“The Conservatives wrecked public services and Nigel Farage plans to charge patients thousands for routine treatments. Just imagine what they’d do together."

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Mr Jenrick, who lost out to Ms Badenoch in last year's leadership race, is riding high with members. A found six cabinet members now have higher ratings among true-blue Tories than her.

Mr Jenrick is the second most popular, with a favourability raiting of +51 - behind Mel Stride on +57.9. The poll, which will cause concern at Conservative HQ, shows Ms Badenoch is currently on a measly +32.

It comes after a YouGov poll last week suggested Reform had overtaken both Labour and the Tories among voters. On Wednesday singled out out Mr Farage for criticism, saying: "The NHS is the lifeblood of our country.

"That's why we invested £25billion in our ... What a contrast with Reform whose leader has said that those who can afford to pay should pay. Under Laboour the NHS will always be free at the point of use for anyone who needs it."

Mr Jenrick said he is focused on bringing "small c-conservatives" back to his party, which he claimed should be their "natural home". He conceded: "We’re not at the moment, because of the mistakes we made in office. It can be done.”

Earlier this week a cross-bench committee of MPs lashed out at the Home Office's purchase of HMP Northeye to house asylum seekers. The contaminated site was purchased for £15.4million less than a year after it had sold for less than half that sum.

A damning dossier, drawn up by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said the case, which Mr Jenrick signed off on, should serve as a warning on how not to do purchases.

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