Reform UK faces decline in opinion polls amid internal strife
Reform UK has experienced its lowest performance in opinion polls over the past 18 months as Nigel Farage’s recent by-election win fails to bolster the party’s popularity, reports BritPanorama.
A new voting intention poll conducted by More in Common places the party at 23 per cent, just four points behind Andy Burnham’s Labour. This marks a significant drop for Reform, which saw its vote share fall to the lowest level since January 2025, coinciding with weeks of internal conflict within the party.
The latest figures present a substantial setback for Reform, a party that had been leading the polls until Burnham’s ascension to the prime ministership, which provided Labour with a crucial boost. The downward trend is compounded by increasing scrutiny regarding the party’s finances, which Farage aimed to alleviate through his recent by-election win.
Luke Tryl, UK director of More in Common, noted that the decline in Reform’s support can be attributed in part to fragmentation on the political right, including the emergence of the Restore party. He added, “Labour have now been steady at 27 per cent for a month.”
In response to the turmoil, Reform has been attempting to minimize reports of disunity within its ranks. This follows the suspension of key ally Tim Montgomerie, who publicly criticized home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf for alleged shortcomings. Montgomerie has been vocally critical of Yusuf, suggesting in a podcast that “Nigel has fallen out of love with Zia.”
A senior source within Reform reinforced the party’s stance, asserting that it would avoid engaging in toxic internal conflicts akin to those of the Tories, stating, “Disagreements should happen behind closed doors, not in the eye of the national media.”
The party is concurrently under pressure regarding its finances, especially after Farage stepped back amid rising scrutiny. His earlier resignation has prompted continued inquiries about a £5 million donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, along with gifts from a convicted criminal, George Cottrell.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has now resumed its investigation into these matters, potentially leading to a second by-election for Farage if he is found to have breached parliamentary regulations regarding the registration of gifts. Under existing Commons rules, MPs must report any gifts exceeding £300 from the past year, unless they are deemed unrelated to political activities.
Farage has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the £5 million donation was strictly personal and did not require formal registration.
The challenges Reform UK faces reflect broader dynamics within the UK political landscape, as party cohesion and public trust remain critical ahead of future elections.
