Reform UK has been making significant progress against the struggling Conservative Party, with new polling highlighting the scale of the challenge facing Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Recent voter sentiment suggests that Nigel Farage’s party now has a similar level of potential electoral reach as the Conservatives. Public opinion indicates ongoing damage to the Tory brand, while Reform UK, which has recently topped several voting intention polls, appears increasingly competitive.
Polling comparisons indicate that only 10% of voters view the Conservatives as strong, while 61% consider them weak. In contrast, 31% see Reform UK as strong, with only 27% labelling the party as weak. Similarly, 18% believe the Tories have a clear sense of purpose, compared to 49% who say the same for Reform UK. This suggests voters are more than twice as likely to see Reform UK as a party with clear direction.
When it comes to trust, Reform UK also outperforms the Conservatives, albeit by a smaller margin. Only 11% of voters consider the Tories trustworthy, while 65% believe they are not. Reform UK fares slightly better, with 19% seeing them as trustworthy and 52% disagreeing. While Farage’s previous leadership of UKIP was seen as divisive, the new polling suggests he is no longer at a disadvantage compared to the Tories.
A key indicator of party viability is how many voters rule out supporting them. The poll found that 56% would never vote for Reform UK, leaving a potential voter base of 44%. Meanwhile, 55% say they would never vote Conservative, leaving a similar pool of 45%. These figures suggest Reform UK does not face a greater barrier to electoral success than the Tories, indicating a shifting political landscape.
