Musk effect? Nigel Farage's Freedom UK just one point behind Starmer's Labour in polls

Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK is now just one point behind the incumbent Labour Party, according to a new poll.

According to a Politico report, citing a research conducted by YouGov, its first analysis of voting intention since last summer’s general election that brought Labour to power, Starmer’s government is at 26 per cent, only one point ahead of the populist party at 25 per cent.

The Conservatives, who left office last summer after 14 years in power, have been pushed into third place by Reform, which now holds 22 per cent of public support.

The development prompted immediate celebration from Farage, the anti-immigration Brexit campaigner, who aims to reduce Labour’s vote share after previously undermining the Tories in last year’s election.

“The Tory brand is completely broken,” he posted on X. “We are the real opposition to this disastrous government.”

According to Politico, citing YouGov, Labour has lost 7 per cent of its 2024 voters to the center-left Liberal Democrats, 6 per cent to the Greens on the left, 5 per cent to Reform UK on the right, and 4 per cent to the Conservatives.

The polling organisation reported that only 54 per cent of Labour’s 2024 voters would choose to support the party again in another election.

In recent weeks, Farage’s party has gained support from US billionaire and Donald Trump advisor Elon Musk, who has used his X platform to criticise the current Labour government. However, their relationship soured after Farage distanced himself from a jailed far-right activist who had Musk’s backing.

Although a general election is still years away, Labour has faced a rocky start to its tenure, grappling with sluggish economic growth, unpopular social security and tax decisions, and various ethics controversies.

According to Politico’s Poll of Polls, Reform UK remains ahead of the Conservatives, garnering 24 per cent to the Tories’ 22 per cent, while Labour leads with 28 per cent, four points ahead of Farage’s party.

With inputs from agencies