Reform UK have overtaken the Tories in an opinion poll for the first time – with party leader Nigel Farage hailing an ‘inflection point’ in British politics.
A YouGov survey for The Times put Reform up two points to 19 per cent, with the Tories unchanged on 18 per cent.
The symbolic moment of Reform moving ahead of the Conservatives is another shattering blow to PM Rishi Sunak with just three weeks until the general election.
The poll showed Labour with an 18-point lead, with Sir Keir Starmer’s party backed by 37 per cent of voters.
The Liberal Democrats were four points behind the Tories on 14 per cent.
Commenting on the YouGov result this evening, prior to taking part in an ITV debate, Mr Farage said: ‘This is the inflection point – the only wasted vote now is a Conservative vote.
‘We are the challengers to Labour, we’re on our way.’
The Reform leader is currently on stage facing off against six other political figures from other parties – Penny Mordaunt, Angela Raynerm – in the latest round of TV debates.
Mr Farage couldn’t contain his glee as he told viewers his party was now the opposition to Labour.
‘I am Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK. Just before we came on air we overtook the Conservatives in the national opinion polls. We are now the opposition to Labour,’ he said.
The YouGov poll was carried out among 2,211 voters in Britain yesterday and today, with Mr Sunak having launched the Tories’ manifesto on Tuesday.
Reform UK have overtaken the Tories in an opinion poll for the first time – with party leader Nigel Farage hailing an ‘inflection point’ in British politics
The YouGov poll on voting intention shows Reform UK overtaking the Tories for the first time
Later, during his introduction to the ITV debate, Mr Farage said: ‘I am Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK.
‘Just before we came on air we overtook the Conservatives in the national opinion polls. We are now the opposition to Labour.’
Earlier, a separate poll showed the Tories have sunk to their lowest-ever level of support.
The latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey found the Conservatives on just 18 per cent support, which is their lowest-ever vote share recorded by the polling firm.
It is one point worse than the Tories’ lowest level of support under former prime minister Liz Truss, who was replaced by Mr Sunak in October 2022.
In the latest poll, conducted yesterday and today, Labour were found to hold a 24-point lead over the Conservatives, with Sir Keir’s party backed by 42 per cent of voters.
Reform UK were on 17 per cent, just one point behind the Tories, while the Liberal Democrats enjoyed a 13 per cent vote share.
This was the highest level of support for Sir Ed Davey’s party this year.
It is another body blow for the PM after last night’s battering during a Sky News special programme in which a snap poll found Sir Keir came out on top in the crucial TV election grilling.
