Reform UK has overtaken Labour in a new poll after Nigel Farage's by-election win. Andy Burnham's party had knocked Reform off the top spot in last week's YouGov survey for the first time in 18 months. But this week's poll puts Mr Farage's party back in first place on 24%, up two points.
Labour and Tories lose ground
Labour, which has enjoyed a bounce following Sir Keir Starmer's departure, is down two points to 22%. Kemi Badenoch's Tories are in third place with 19%, down two points. The Greens are on 13%, up one, while the Lib Dems are on 12%, also up one. Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain is on 4%, unchanged from the week before.
Reaction and context
Reform's Zia Yusuf took to X, saying: "Labour and the Tories down two. The Burnham and Kemi bounces going well I see!" Last week's result was the joint-lowest level of support for Reform that YouGov has recorded since January 2025.
It comes amid ongoing questions over Mr Farage's financial affairs, including a row over a £5million gift. But the Reform leader won his "people versus the establishment" by-election in Clacton last Thursday with more votes than in the last General Election.
In a victory speech, the Brexiteer said: “The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win with more votes than we got in the General Election of 2024.” He added: “Today the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.” YouGov polled 2,441 people from August 16-17.
