Nearly two-thirds of Tory Party members want a pact with Reform UK at the next election, according to a poll.

Some 64 per cent support an electoral pact in which the parties would agree to not pit candidates against each other in target seats, while 31 per cent do not.

The YouGov poll found that 46 per cent of Tory members would even support a full-blown merger with Nigel Farage's party, while 48 per cent would oppose it.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Mr Farage have repeatedly ruled out any arrangement, and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick dismissed the prospect yesterday as a 'fool's errand'.

The poll of 652 Tories – published during the party's conference in Manchester – also found 73 per cent supported a coalition government with Reform in a hung parliament, with 25 per cent against.

Just 14 per cent of Tory faithful believe they will win a majority at the next election.

Half think Mrs Badenoch should not lead the party into the next election, while 46 per cent want her to still be in place when the nation votes. Asked who should be leader, 39 per cent chose her and 46 per cent picked Mr Jenrick.

In a choice between her and Mr Farage, more than a third would choose the Reform chief as leader of their party.

It comes as former Cabinet minister David Frost warned the party: 'We're on the edge of ceasing to exist.' 

Meanwhile, elections guru Sir John Curtice predicted the Lib Dems will 'almost undoubtedly' win more seats than the Tories at the next election. 

Asked what the Tories faced, he said: 'The party potentially loses its role as a significant governing party in the UK. It is that serious.'

Elsewhere at the event, Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins wore a Union Flag blazer to attack Labour's rural policies, such as the 'family farm tax' – a 20 per cent inheritance levy.