Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has downplayed a new YouGov poll that shows Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party edging out the Conservatives, suggesting a vote for Reform would indirectly bolster Labour.
The poll puts Reform at 19%, one point ahead of the Conservatives’ 18%, with Labour leading at 37%.
Speaking at a G7 summit press conference in Italy, Sunak urged voters to focus on the broader implications of the upcoming election. “We are still fighting for every vote,” he said. “A vote for Reform UK would hand Labour a blank cheque to raise taxes and reverse our key policies.”
Sunak asserted that only the Conservatives are committed to policies such as lowering taxes, controlling migration, and implementing a practical approach to net zero. “If you want lower taxes, protected pensions, and sensible environmental policies, a Conservative vote is essential,” he added.
The YouGov poll highlights the Conservatives’ continuing struggle:
- Labour: 37% (-1)
- Reform UK: 19% (+2)
- Conservatives: 18% (unchanged)
- Liberal Democrats: 14% (-1)
- Green: 7% (-1)
- SNP: 3% (+1)
Sunak warned that Labour’s approach would result in higher taxes and increased costs for households, contrasting it with the Conservative pledge to reduce the tax burden and ensure financial stability.
