Nigel Farage has received a poll boost which puts Reform UK in snatching distance of almost 20 seats.
Farage, 60, who was elected alongside four other Reform UK candidates last month, could pick up around a dozen more after an Omnisis poll put the populist party on 21 per cent.
Reform UK received 14.7 per cent support on July 4, leaving the populist party second in just under 100 other seats.
The Tories found themselves down on their 2024 General Election drubbing, with just 20 per cent support.
Labour’s support appears somewhat stable at 33 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party raking in 11 and eight per cent respectively.
Such a situation could see Reform UK pick up Basildon & Billericay, Bridgwater, Bridlington & the Wolds, Castle Point, Faversham & Mid Kent, Havant, Hornchurch & Upminster, Isle of Wight East and Maidstone & Malling from the Tories.
Electoral Calculus’ predictor also suggested ex-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would lose Godalming & Ash to the Liberal Democrats and Mel Stride would likely suffer defeat to Labour in Devon Central.
Reform UK would also make some advances compared to Ukip in 2014 and 2015 by winning several Labour-held seats, including Llanelli, South West Norfolk and Sittingbourne & Sheppey.
The populist party would also trail Labour by less than one per cent in Amber Valley, Dudley and Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr.
However, the Omnisis poll comes after YouGov claimed Reform UK’s leader took a blow following his response to the recent riots across England and Northern Ireland.
YouGov revealed Farage’s net approval dropped from -35 per cent to -42 per cent.
While the figure remained virtually unchanged among 2024 Reform UK voters, the Brexit supremo saw his seven-point advantage with Leave voters collapse to -4 per cent as 2024 Conservative supporters also turned against Farage.
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Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation as SNP finances probe continues
Nicola Sturgeon
PA
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation, Police Scotland’s top officer has claimed.
Jo Farrell, who is Chief Constable of Police Scotland, issued an update yesterday about the investigation into the SNP’s finances, known as Operation Branchform.
“That inquiry is ongoing,” she said as she refused to be drawn on when it would end.
Asked specifically if Sturgeon remains under investigation, Farrell replied: “Still ongoing.”
The former First Minister denies any wrongdoing and was released following her arrest in 2023 pending further enquiries.