Nigel Farage’s Reform UK accused of having ‘no plans to reform anything’ after a poll suggested they were just two points behind the Conservatives
Reform UK was accused yesterday of having ‘no plan to reform anything’ after a poll suggested Nigel Farage‘s side was only two points behind the Tories.
Conservative ministers lashed out, saying it was easy for Farage and his party to shout from the sidelines but ‘these guys don’t even have a policy’.
And on a brighter note Rishi Sunakrumors of further Tory defections to reform melted away. None were expected before today’s deadline for nominations for the general election.
But Reform leader Richard Tice last night said the Tories were “terrified” of the rebel party.
It comes after a YouGov poll this week put reform at 17 percentage points – up two points since Mr Farage announced his return to the frontline of politics as reform leader. The Tories were at 19 and Work at 40.
Nigel Farage has predicted that the reforms could be level with the Tories in the polls ‘within a week’. Pictured: the party leader in Arromanches, Normandy, for the D-Day celebrations
Reform chairman Richard Tice (pictured) said last night that the Tories were ‘terrified’ of reform
Mr Sunak (pictured with his wife) and Mr Farage have ruled out striking a pact to resign from certain seats and give each other’s candidates a free run
A slew of other polls last night suggested the reforms were increasingly putting pressure on Tory support.
A Focaldata poll found Sunak was just one percentage point above Farage on the measure of who would make the best Prime Minister, at 20 versus 19. Keir Starmer was at 41.
Focaldata showed reforms rising two to fourteen points, the Tories one to 25 percent and Labor one to 44 percent.
Meanwhile, Redfield and Wilton found the Prime Minister had a worse score than Mr Farage, at -19 percent compared to -7 percent.
Fears are growing among Tory candidates that Farage’s insurgent party will divide the votes of right-wing parties and make a Labor victory much easier.
At the launch of his campaign on Monday, Farage predicted that reforms could see him tie with the Tories at the polls “within a week”.
And the firebrand politician yesterday criticized Mr Sunak for leaving the D-Day events in Normandy, France, early to resume the campaign.
Mr Farage was present ‘in a personal capacity’ where he was seen trying out a military truck at Gold Beach in Arromanches. Sir Keir was present all day, along with world leaders and veterans.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride was asked yesterday whether the YouGov poll ‘sent a shiver down your spine?’ He told Sky News: ‘The only poll that matters is the general election.’
Bim Afolami, Economic Secretary, Ministry of Finance, said: ‘[Reform] I have no plan to reform anything. It’s easy to shout from the sidelines: if you’re Nigel Farage or anyone else, say: “All established parties are rubbish”. But these guys don’t even have a policy.”
Mr Sunak and Mr Farage have ruled out striking a pact to resign from certain seats and give each other’s candidates a free run.
Last night Mr Tice said the Tories were ‘absolutely terrified’, adding: ‘They’ve been begging us not to stand in all kinds of places and we’re catching up with them. Look at the YouGov survey. We are very happy.’
