Nigel Farage fumes over ‘bogus’ and ‘dishonest’ poll that sees Labour build up THIRTEEN-point lead over Reform UK

But the Clacton MP, who was leading the polls 12 months ago, claimed the pollster was understating Reform’s support across the country.

Mr Farage hit out at the latest research, saying: “This is totally dishonest polling by a Tory donor who isn’t even a member of the British Polling Council.

“He had us at 21 per cent in May and we achieved 28 per cent – his polling has been proven as bogus time and time again.”

After a series of polls pushing the Conservatives ahead of Reform UK, Tory insiders told GB News they remain hopeful a comeback is on the cards following the party’s historic battering at the ballot box in 2024.

The new survey, revealed by the Daily Mail, put Labour on 31 per cent, the Tories on 26 per cent and Reform UK trailing behind on 18 per cent.

While Mr Farage cast doubt on the accuracy of the research, other polls have shown Mrs Badenoch pulling ahead of Reform UK more frequently.

Last week, research by the pollsters at YouGov, which was shared with The Times, forecast Labour would win 26 per cent of the vote if a contest were held today.

Just two points behind, the Tories were predicted to receive the backing of almost one in four voters (24 per cent), while Reform UK sat on 21 per cent.

The gap between the right-wing parties had grown since YouGov’s polling from the week before, with Mrs Badenoch now pulling three points ahead of the Clacton MP.

The boost to the Tory Party is fresh off some well-received performances from Mrs Badenoch, from Prime Minister’s Questions to her persistent grilling of Chancellor John Healey over the despatch box last month.

Since 2024, the North West Essex MP has overseen her party averaging around 19 per cent, and has now returned to the level of support Rishi Sunak left behind when he stepped down as leader.

Speaking to journalists about the “Badenoch bounce” last week, Mr Farage claimed support for his party was averaging four points higher than that for the Tories.

He said: “What I will tell you is this: the jiggery-pokery that is going on with polling is utterly astonishing. And if you believe the polls you’ve seen this week, you’re not understanding what’s going on out there.

“On the raw data, we’re four points higher, and the Conservatives are only four points lower. That’s the reality.”

Mr Farage also said the research formed part of a push from the “Westminster Establishment” to whip up a two-horse race between Labour and the Tories at the next election.

Reform UK reached a peak of 31 per cent in the poll-of-polls in September 2025, with Labour down on 20 per cent and the Tories dropping to 17 per cent.

A source close to Lord Ashcroft brushed off the claim, according to the Daily Mail, insisting the pollster’s prediction for the May election was a “red herring” due to questioning centring on general elections.

Lord Ashcroft said: “Kemi Badenoch continues to make an impression, with voters saying she seems strong, direct, principled and articulate, with more common sense and ‘better energy’ than her recent predecessors.”