Labour overtakes Reform UK in polls amid Burnham’s rise
Labour has overtaken Reform UK in the polls for the first time in over a year, buoyed by the momentum from Andy Burnham’s first week as prime minister, reports BritPanorama.
According to a survey by the pollsters More in Common, Labour is now leading with 28 per cent, up four points, while Nigel Farage’s Reform is down two to 24 per cent. This marks the first time since March 2025 that Labour has led, with Reform in second place and the Conservatives just behind at 22 per cent.
The apparent boost for Labour is being attributed to the ‘Burnham bounce’ alongside a decrease in support for the Greens, who have seen their share drop three points to just 8 per cent after previously attracting voters from Labour’s left flank.
Luke Tryl, the UK director at More in Common, remarked, “It’s only been a week since he entered office, but it’s clear that momentum is on the prime minister’s side. After a jam-packed week of high-profile policy announcements and media appearances, the Labour Party has surged in our weekly poll.”
Tryl also noted that while it is just one poll, Labour now leads for the first time since March last year and boasts its highest vote share since the early months of this government in 2024. This early focus on the cost of living appears to have resonated with voters Labour has lost on both the left and right.
The findings come shortly after Mr. Burnham officially succeeded Sir Keir Starmer, who was ousted after Labour MPs lost confidence in his capacity to confront Farage effectively.
Notably, the poll indicates that if a general election were held now, Labour would secure 325 seats, though this would represent a reduction of 86 seats, resulting in a very narrow working majority.
The Tories would come second with 124 seats, while Reform would be in third place with 88. In a recent interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Mr. Burnham dismissed speculation regarding an early election, insisting, “There is no early general election, and the thing I would say to you is 20 plus – how many million people you just mentioned, voted for a manifesto; we’re in a parliamentary democracy so that is what people voted for.”
Burnham has faced criticism for sidestepping press conferences and scrutiny; however, his strategy of engaging voters through social media seems to have yielded positive initial results.
On the other hand, Mr. Farage is grappling with controversy surrounding an undeclared £5 million donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, alongside his connections to convicted money launderer George Cottrell.
Farage has also become an object of ridicule after orchestrating a by-election in his own constituency, where the main parties are boycotting in the face of competition from 34 minor candidates, the most notable being the comedic Count Binface.
