Farage’s Return Sees Reform Party Close on Tories, YouGov Says

The return of Brexit architect Nigel Farage as leader of Reform UK and a candidate in next month’s general election has seen the right-wing party close to within just two points of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s governing Conservatives, threatening a dire election result for the premier, a new poll by YouGov showed.

Some 17% of people surveyed said they would vote for Reform, up from 15% last week, according to YouGov. Sunak’s Tories were on 19%, down two points. The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, was on 40%, giving it a 21-point lead over the Conservatives. The survey was mostly conducted after Farage announced on Monday that he would take the helm of the insurgent party and stand as a candidate in Clacton, eastern England on July 4.