Robert Jenrick told a private student dinner that he is working to bring together a “coalition” of Reform and Tories in order to prevent Keir Starmer winning a second general election. In a recording of the remarks passed to Sky News, Mr Jenrick was heard saying he is “determined” to unite Reform and Tory voters.

He remained supportive of the Tory leader’s ambitions to take the fight to Nigel Farage and prevent Reform UK becoming a permanent fixture of British politics, though he suggested if that is not achieved by the election there may need to be a change of strategy. Mr Jenrick told students at the UCL Conservative association dinner in late March: “[Reform UK] continues to do well in the polls. And my worry is that they become a kind of permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene. And if that is the case, and I say, I am trying to do everything I can to stop that being the case, then life becomes a lot harder for us, because the right is not united."

"And then you head towards the general election, where the nightmare scenario is that Keir Starmer sails in through the middle as a result of the two parties being disunited. I don't know about you, but I'm not prepared for that to happen.

"I want the fight to be united. And so, one way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well."

Mr Jenrick denied that his comments were advocating a pact with Reform UK, while a source close to the top Tory insisted he was referring to a coalition of voters not parties.

They added: “He's clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all those on the right, rebuilding the coalition of voters we had in 2019 and can have again."

“But he's under no illusions how difficult that is - we have to prove over time we've changed and can be trusted again."

Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly ruled out any deal with Nigel Farage under her leadership.

She argued that Nigel Farage “wants to destroy the Conservative Party… why on earth would we merge with that?”

However polls of Tory members, and betting markets, suggest that were Ms Badenoch to falter leading the party, Mr Jenrick would be the top pick to replace her.

Reform has also ruled out a deal between them and the Tories, with a spokesman insisting: “Reform UK have been explicitly clear, we are not interested in doing a deal with the Tories.”

“They have failed the country for 14 years and can never be trusted ever again.

"The Tories ran the UK into the ground and Labour are now continuing this trend with high taxes, high immigration and low wages.”

The Tories have trailed Reform UK in most polls since the start of the year, with an MRP poll this weekend suggesting Nigel Farage would win the most seats in an election if one were held tomorrow.

More In Commons’ bombshell survey suggested Reform would win 180 seats, ahead of Labour and the Tories on 165 each.