Labour has moved ahead of Reform UK in two major opinion polls, marking the first time in over a year the party has led Nigel Farage's movement. Survation data puts Labour on 26% and Reform on 24%, while More In Common has Labour at 28% and Reform at 24%, suggesting a 'Burnham bounce' following the new Prime Minister's tenure.
The poll boost comes as Mr Farage faces a challenging by-election in Clacton, triggered by himself, where his main opponent is parody candidate Count Binface. The contest, expected to cost taxpayers up to £300,000, has been dismissed by other parties as a circus, leaving Farage to face 33 candidates including Binface.
Separate polling from YouGov and Sky News shows Labour and Reform tied at 22%, the first such tie since April last year. However, in Greater Manchester, Reform's hopes of winning the mayoral election have faded, with Labour's Bev Craig leading at 39% against Reform's 19%.
Mr Farage is also under scrutiny over an undeclared £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, prompting an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. He argues the gift was a personal, unconditional donation, but critics claim he is using the by-election to divert attention from the allegations.
Head-to-head polling by YouGov shows 48% of Britons prefer Mr Burnham as Prime Minister over Mr Farage's 22%. In Clacton, Count Binface has unveiled a manifesto pledging not to accept crypto millionaire gifts and proposing measures such as a £1.99 bus fare cap and filling potholes with the Labour Party manifesto.
