Conservatives rule out pre-election pact with Nigel Farage

Some Tory MPs had reportedly called for Farage to made ambassador to US in exchange for him not standing for Reform UK

The Conservatives have ruled out making any sort of pre-election pact with Nigel Farage in exchange for him not standing for Reform UK at the general election, saying: We don't do deals."

The statement, coming after Labour called on Downing Street to dismiss the mooted idea that Farage could be made the UK's ambassador to Washington, risks angering Tory backbenchers, who are increasingly anxious at the likely impact of Reform on their re-election chances.