Reform UK surpasses Conservatives in recent major poll
Nigel Farage’s party is currently tied with the Conservatives and is projected to win one to three seats, according to pollster Matt Goodwin.
Reform UK has surpassed the Conservatives for the first time in a major opinion poll.
A YouGov survey released on Thursday shows Nigel Farage’s party at 19 percent and the Conservatives at 18 percent in voting intention.
“With Reform UK experiencing a gradual increase in their vote over recent months, there were whispers about the possibility of the party surpassing the unpopular Conservatives,” stated YouGov.
While Reform UK is numerically ahead, YouGov noted that “these figures are well within the margin of error of one another” and that it will take time to see if Reform can maintain or improve their position relative to the Conservatives.
‘Seismic Shift’
YouGov also mentioned that it is “fair to say at this point in time – given the results of the last few polls – that Reform UK is neck and neck with the Conservatives,” indicating a significant change in the voting landscape.
Mr. Farage celebrated the poll results, declaring his party as the new “opposition to Labour.”
Pollster Matt Goodwin expressed that Reform “could certainly hope to win one to three seats” in an email to The Epoch Times.
In a Substack blog post, he anticipated that Mr. Farage and Reform would surpass Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party in national polls.
In a video on his YouTube channel, he explained that voters are not acting irrationally, but rather responding to what he sees as an “inflection point.”
He stated, “If you look at all the evidence as to why people are voting for Marine Le Pen, for the AfD in Germany, for Nigel Farage in Britain, they have entirely rational, coherent concerns; the left refuses to accept this.”
He highlighted that such voters desire “lower immigration, slower demographic cultural change, and stronger borders,” and reject what they perceive as “woke” ideologies.
Labour Ahead
The YouGov poll indicated that Labour leads at 37 percent, down one point from the previous poll, while the Liberal Democrats and Greens also experienced slight declines.
The survey was conducted on a sample of 2,211 adults in Britain from June 12 to 13.
Mr. Sunak warned that voting for Reform would benefit Labour, while Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting emphasized Labour’s readiness to compete with Reform.
“We’re determined to outshine them in the realm of ideas and illustrate genuine transformative changes in our country if we gain the trust of the public in the upcoming general election.”
Reform
Last month, Reform announced Mr. Farage as its leader and candidate for MP in Clacton, presenting a fresh challenge to the Tories.
The former Brexit Party leader, who initially declined to contest in the general election, citing timing, has now reversed his decision and will stand in Essex.
PA Media contributed to this report.
