Reform UK faces lowest support in two years amid scandals
Reform UK has recorded its worst result in YouGov polling for two years, following months of turbulence for the party, reports BritPanorama.
The new poll shows support declining by two points to 21 per cent, positioning the party neck-and-neck with the Conservatives in second place. Both are two points behind Labour, which leads with 23 per cent.
The Green Party has risen to third with a three-point gain, now at 14 per cent, while the Liberal Democrats have dropped slightly to 12 per cent.
Despite previous gains in the devolved and local elections this May, Reform UK has since faced challenges, including controversies over donations to Nigel Farage, competition from Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain on the right, and a slip in voting intentions since Andy Burnham took office.
This latest polling marks the lowest level for Reform UK since YouGov resumed its tracking of voting intentions in January 2025 and comes shortly after Farage recorded a personal popularity low.
A YouGov survey released earlier this month indicated that nearly seven in ten Britons (69 per cent) hold an unfavourable view of the Reform leader, the highest figure in a decade. Close to six in ten respondents (57 per cent) view Farage very unfavourably, while only 24 per cent express a favourable opinion.
Farage’s net favourability rating stands at -45, the same score as Sir Keir Starmer just prior to his resignation as prime minister. This represents a significant decline from a -31 rating the previous year, indicating that Britons are now nearly three times more likely to perceive him negatively.
Furthermore, a significant donations scandal overshadowed what Farage had hoped would be a pivotal comeback speech at Reform’s party conference in Birmingham in early September. Allegations regarding the arrangement of illegal donations led to the resignation of Farage’s chief of staff, Dan Jukes, and policy director, James Orr.
The conference, intended to showcase Reform’s plans for its “first 100 days” in government, was diverted as Farage faced questioning regarding his potential recovery from yet another scandal.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating claims that Reform UK breached rules concerning party donations related to illegal foreign funding. This follows complaints from Labour and the Liberal Democrats concerning video footage acquired by Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim during a sting operation.
Amid the controversy, it was revealed last weekend that two crypto-billionaires have each donated £36 million to Reform UK. The combined £72 million represents three-quarters of the total funds spent by all parties in the last general election.
Reform UK plans to use the funds for preparations for office, asserting that the donors expect “nothing” in return. However, campaigners argue that such large donations underscore the urgent need for limits on political contributions, warning that the situation “creates risks that the game will be rigged in favour of those with the most cash.”
The latest YouGov poll surveyed over 2,000 adults between 20 and 21 September 2026.
