Labour and Reform trade poll leads as Burnham’s conference boost and Reform controversies shape results

The latest YouGov research has found Labour's support was up three points from before the gathering, reaching 27 per cent.

The latest YouGov research has found Labour's support was up three points from before the gathering, reaching 27 per cent.

One poll has put Labour five points clear after Burnham’s conference speech

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.Support for Reform UK is continuing to plummet, according to a damning new poll.YouGov also found that Labour is now at its highest level of support since January last year as Andy Burnham’s honeymoon shows no sign of ending.The poll put Labour up 3 points to 27%, with Reform down 3 points to 22%.That put Nigel Farage’s party just 2 points ahead of the Conservatives, who are up a point to 20%.The Lib Dems and Greens are neck-and-neck on 11% each.🚨 NEW: Labour has now hit its highest level of support since January 2025 🔴 LAB 27% (+3)➡️ REF 22% (-3)🔵 CON 20% (+1)🟠 LDM: 11% (-1)🟢 GRN: 11% (-)Via YouGov— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) October 5, 2026At the start of this year, Reform were still polling at around 30%, and in May were the clear winners of the local elections in England.However, a series of controversies have led to them slipping in the national polls.Parliament’s standards commissioner is investigating Farage’s failure to declare a £5 million gift he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before he became an MP in 2024.The Metropolitan Police have also launched a criminal probe after a Channel 4 documentary appeared to show senior Reform figures trying to solicit money from a foreign donor.Meanwhile, a poll of polls by Election Maps UK shows how Labour’s growing lead over Reform has coincided with Burnham’s time in No.10.The two parties were still neck-and-neck in July, when he took over from Keir Starmer as prime minister.But since then, Labour’s lead has stretched to me than 3 points. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...BBC Question Time Hits Back At Reform UK Over Audience Bias ClaimsReform UK Slump To 18-Month Opinion Poll Low In Latest Blow For Nigel FarageLabour Soars To 6-Point Poll Lead Over Reform UK In Major Boost For Burnham

Mixed polling results indicate Labour’s lead over Reform remains insecure

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has a lot to ponder.Support for Reform UK has plunged to its lowest in more than 18 months, according to a devastating new poll.The research, by the More in Common think-tank, gives Labour a five-point lead and puts Nigel Farage’s party in third place behind the Tories.Labour are on 27%, with the Conservatives on 22% and Reform a point further behind on 21%.It is the lowest level of support that More in Common has recorded for Reform since December, 2024, and the highest for Labour since they resumed polling two years ago.Just six months ago, Reform was regularly polling at more than 30%.In this week’s voting intention, Labour's lead widens as Reform fall to their lowest in over 18 months.🌹 LAB 27% (+1)🌳 CON 22% (-1)⏩ REF 21% (-1)🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-)🟢 GREEN 9% (+1)⚫ RES: 6% (-)🟡 SNP 3% (+1)⚪️ OTH 1% (-)N = 2,041 | Fieldwork 25-29/9 | Changes w 18/09 pic.twitter.com/L468cm7T89— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) September 30, 2026Their slump in popularity has coincided with Andy Burnham replacing Keir Starmer as PM, as well as controversy over Farage and Reform’s finances.The party leader is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner for failing to declare a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne before the 2024 election.Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal probe following a Channel 4 undercover sting in which senior Reform figures appeared to be soliciting donations from a foreign donor against electoral law.The More in Common poll also found that Burnham’s net approval rating with voters has gone up to plus 11, while Farage is level with Green Party leader Zack Polanksi on minus 24.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Labour Soars To 6-Point Poll Lead Over Reform UK In Major Boost For BurnhamBlow For Andy Burnham As Reform Regains Opinion Poll Lead Over LabourReform On Course To Win Fewer Seats Than Labour Or Tories At General Election

Andy Burnham waves after he delivering his speech to the Labour conference.Labour has soared to a six-point lead over Reform UK in the latest opinion poll.In a major boost for Andy Burnham, support for the party is now at its highest level with Survation in nearly two years.The pollster put Labour on 29%, with Reform on 23% and the Conservatives on 19%. The Greens and Lib Dems are level on 9% each.The findings were revealed on the final day of the Labour conference in Liverpool and highlight the remarkable turnaround in the party’s fortunes since Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as leader in July.At that time, Reform still held a slight lead over Labour.But since Burnham became prime minister, backing for Labour has climbed consistently.The last time the party was at 29% with Survation was in December 2024, just five months after Starmer’s landslide general election victory.A separate poll published on Wednesday by the More in Common think-tank gave Labour a five-point lead.It put the party on 27%, with the Tories in second place on 22% and Reform on 21%.The latest polls come a day after pollsters YouGov gave Reform a one-point lead over Labour.However, the clear trend in recent months has been a rise in Labour support and a fall in Reform’s.According to a poll of polls by Election Maps UK, Labour is now on 26.7%, with Reform on 23.5% and the Conservatives on 20%.Burnham moved last week to dampen down speculation that he is planning an early election by insisting the country will not go to the polls until 2029.NEW: Westminster Voting IntentionLAB 29% (+2)RFM 23% (-1)CON 19% (-2)LD 9% (-2)GRN 9% (+2)SNP 3% (=)RB 2% (=)PC 1% (-1)OTH 4% (=)F/w 29 September 2026. Changes vs 23/09/2026 pic.twitter.com/J81CoXHiyt— Survation. (@Survation) September 30, 2026Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Burnham Accused Of 'Clever Politician Speak' For Claiming He Is Not Scrapping Triple LockBritain Could Rejoin European Union On My Watch, Says Andy Burnham6 Things We Learned From Andy Burnham's Big Labour Conference Speech

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives a speech during a reception at 10 Downing Street, London, Monday Sept. 21, 2026Reform UK has crept ahead of Labour, according to a new poll.In a blow for Andy Burnham, YouGov found that support for Nigel Farage’s party has jumped by 4 points in the past week – the first time they have enjoyed a poll lead in weeks.That puts them on 25%, a point ahead of Labour, who are up 1 point to 24%.It was a bad week for Kemi Badenoch, however, with the Tories dropping 3 points to 19%.The poll blow came just hours before Burnham delivers his first speech to Labour conference as party leader.The prime minister had given the party a boost in the polls since replacing the deeply unpopular Keir Starmer in July.He had been widely praised for winning voters back with his proposals to bring down the cost of living.The most recent poll of polls compiled by Election Maps UK in August still gives Labour a 3-point lead over Reform.However, YouGov’s research suggests Burnham’s honeymoon period might already be in decline.It also comes after a particularly gruelling summer for Reform due to heightened scrutiny around the party finances.Farage has been at the centre of controversy over a £5 million gift he received from Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he did not declare to parliament.He is currently being investigated by parliament’s standards commissioner into his finances.Two of Farage’s close aides stepped down during Reform’s annual party conference earlier this month following a separate sting operation about donations.The Metropolitan Police is also carrying out a criminal investigation into the party over allegations it broke foreign funding laws.Despite the backlash over their finances, the party received a whopping £72 million in donations from crypto-billionaires within 48 hours earlier this month.There is now speculation that the government might introduce a law banning such lump sums coming from British expats.The survey is especially surprising considering YouGov predicted only last week that the party would win fewer seats than Labour or the Tories if an election were held now.A mega-study suggested Farage would end up with 123 MPs, while Labour would be the largest party of 241 seats, with the Tories on 130.Reform were unsurprisingly delighted with the YouGov poll’s latest findings.Reform chief whip Lee Anderson responded to the poll enthusiastically, writing on X: “Here we go!”  Deputy leader Richard Tice also wrote on X: “Burnham Bounces down.”Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...'Morally Wrong': Union Boss Slams Andy Burnham Over Plan To Axe Pensions Triple LockPensions Triple Lock Facing Axe As Burnham Vows To End 'Politics As Usual'Andy Burnham Vows To Offer Free Social Care System At Next General Election