Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has surpassed the Conservative Party in a national poll, marking a historic moment in British politics.
According to a YouGov survey, the Conservatives were pushed to third place, trailing Reform by one percentage point — 18 percent to Reform’s 19 percent.
This development is a significant blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following an intense election campaign, raising alarm among Conservative MPs.
The poll results were unveiled just before Nigel Farage was set to participate in a seven-way debate on ITV, featuring notable figures including Conservative cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt.
Farage seized the moment, declaring to millions of viewers, “We are now the opposition to Labour.”
During the 90-minute debate, Farage aggressively challenged Mordaunt on immigration, questioning the credibility of her party’s promises: “Why should voters believe your promises now?”
He highlighted the Conservatives’ failure to reduce immigration numbers since 2010. The survey indicated a two-point rise in support for Reform, while the Conservatives remained stagnant at 18 percent.
As the debate concluded, Farage delivered a stinging remark to Mordaunt: “A vote for you is actually now a vote for Labour.”
This statement is likely to cause agitation among Conservative MPs, who are witnessing their support erode as voters defect to Reform.
The timing of the poll may have been influenced by Sunak’s controversial decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early, a move that has drawn widespread criticism.
This latest poll result raises questions among Conservatives about whether it represents an anomaly or signals a broader trend favoring Reform.
If Reform’s lead grows, it could precipitate a crisis for the Conservative Party, potentially leading to a significant electoral defeat.
Labour continues to lead the pack with 37 percent, according to YouGov, while the Liberal Democrats have dipped to 14 percent.
Farage suggested that the Conservative Party could be nearing its demise, hinting at the possibility of a merger similar to that orchestrated by his political role model, Canada’s Stephen Harper.
Despite the symbolic victory of overtaking the Tories in the poll, the first-past-the-post electoral system means that Farage’s party is unlikely to secure more than a handful of seats in Westminster.
However, this achievement underscores the mounting pressure on Rishi Sunak’s party. Many Conservative MPs fear that Reform could siphon off enough votes to hand victories to Labour or the Liberal Democrats, even without winning seats themselves.
Reform’s ‘Aggressive’ Campaign
Reform made headlines recently with a provocative Party Election Broadcast that turned TV screens black for nearly five minutes, displaying the stark message: “Britain is broken. Britain needs Reform.”
This bold move highlights the party’s efforts to capitalize on widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Rishi Sunak’s leadership has come under fire during what has been widely regarded as a disastrous election campaign.
Additionally, Sunak faced ridicule over claims about his family’s past financial struggles, including the lack of Sky TV during his childhood.
Adding to Sunak’s woes, Farage mocked him after Conservative candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns featured Farage’s image on her campaign leaflets, conspicuously omitting any reference to Sunak or the Conservative Party.
Despite their recent gains, Reform has faced its own challenges. Farage withdrew from a high-profile BBC interview amidst controversy over the party’s stance on appeasement of Hitler.
Although the Panorama special with Nick Robinson was postponed, Farage continued to campaign in Barnsley and Nottinghamshire.
This YouGov poll is not an isolated case; other surveys indicate varying gaps between the Conservatives and Reform. The political scene remains highly volatile, with all parties vying for voter support in a rapidly shifting environment as the election campaign progresses.
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