Tories and Reform should do deal in Aberdeen South, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

The former Tory cabinet minister said his party should help Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election in exchange for a hand in the north-east of Scotland.

Mr Rees-Mogg - who was a key ally of former Tory prime minister Boris Johnson - said “the right should come together” and “cooperate to win elections”.

The Aberdeen South and Makerfield by-elections are taking place on June 18, as is the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election.

Aberdeen South is viewed as a straight fight between the SNP and the Conservatives, whereas Makerfield - in the north-west of England - is a contest between Reform UK and Labour.

Read more: Westminster committee to discuss Peter Murrell embezzlement inquiry next week

When asked about the Makerfield by-election, Mr Rees-Mogg told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg : “I keep on banging on that the right should come together. We need to work out how we can cooperate to win elections like this.

“There's by-election in Aberdeen South going on the same time. What I suggested is the Tories should help Reform in Makerfield in return for Reform helping us in Aberdeen South.

“If we could win both of those, that would be very positive for the small c conservatives in British politics.

“I think Restore... a Restore vote is a wasted vote. I mean, it is not helping anybody.”

Restore Britain - a party set up by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe - is polling at around seven per cent in Makerfield.

This could be a deciding factor in the by-election.

Mr Lowe’s party is more right-wing that Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The Aberdeen South by-election is taking place after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was elected to Holyrood.

He was elected as MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine last month, with the Conservatives just 1,200 votes behind.

Read more: SNP Aberdeen South candidate backs Rosebank and Jackdaw in 'oil and gas by-election'

The Tories have blamed Reform UK - which took more than 6,000 votes - for the SNP winning the seat.

Standing for the SNP is former Gordon MP Richard Thomson, while Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden is running against him.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is running for Labour in Makerfield - with the expectation that he will try to oust Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister if he returns to the Commons.

SNP Aberdeen South candidate Richard Thomson said: “This Tory toff has made one thing absolutely clear - only the SNP can beat Reform and the Tories in Aberdeen South.

“Aberdeen South means nothing to these people - it’s just a pawn in a political game between Farage and the Tories.

“On 18th June, people in Aberdeen South can send Farage and the Tories packing by electing an SNP representative who will always put our industry first and put Aberdeen South first.

“We cannot afford to let Nigel Farage or the Tories get their hands on our energy wealth - only the SNP is on the side of our energy sector and only the SNP believes Scotland’s oil and gas resources should enrich the people of Scotland.”