Badenoch's Conservatives open eight-point lead over Farage's Reform

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Nov, 16:53 · Archive

A poll puts the Conservatives eight points ahead of Reform UK, with Labour still leading overall.

A new poll by Lord Ashcroft has given the Conservatives an eight-point lead over Reform UK. The survey puts Labour on 31 per cent, the Conservatives on 26 per cent and Reform UK on 18 per cent—a jump from the Tories' three-point lead a month earlier.

The finding provides a significant boost to Kemi Badenoch's Conservative leadership, though Labour under Andy Burnham remains the largest party. Mrs Badenoch's aides attribute the improvement to her public performances in the Commons and on the campaign trail, as well as Conservative policies such as a proposal to cut inheritance tax announced at the party's October conference.

Nigel Farage rejected the poll, claiming on X that it was 'totally dishonest polling by a Tory donor who isn't even a member of the British Polling Council'. He cited a similar Ashcroft poll from May that had Reform on 21 per cent, before the party secured 28 per cent in that month's local elections. Lord Ashcroft responded that he did not recall Mr Farage complaining when his polls showed Reform nine points ahead, and noted that general election polling differs from local election polling.

Luke Tryl from pollsters More in Common said the latest finding 'broadly aligns with the trend we see in other polls'. Reform has faced difficulties in recent months following a £5m donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and undercover stings by journalists.

Badenoch's Conservatives open eight-point lead over Farage's Reform — Image: The Independent

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How it is being reported

Farage fury after poll puts Reform eight points behind Kemi Badenoch’s ConservativesFinding is a major boost for the Tories, who remain five points behind LabourThe Independent · 8 Nov, 16:26
Kemi Badenoch storms to an eight-point poll lead over Nigel Farage as voters back her tax-cutting policiesThe poll will be welcomed by Tory strategists as a sign that the party is building momentum under Mrs Badenoch's leadership.Daily Mail · 7 Nov, 21:41

In this story: Kemi Badenoch · Nigel Farage · Andy Burnham · Conservative Party · Reform UK · Labour Party

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