Now Reform OVERTAKES Tories among over-55s in latest polling blow for Rishi Sunak – as Nigel Farage plans to attack PM over D-Day ‘disappearing act’ in TV debate tonight

Reform UK has overtaken the Tories among voters aged over 55, a new poll shows.

In the final blow Rishi Sunak for the general election on July 4, a Redfield & Wilton survey found that reforms were supported by 19 percent of 55- to 64-year-olds.

For comparison: the Conservatives This age group had only 14 percent support.

Among voters over 65, who will mainly be pensioners, the reform lead over the Tories was slightly smaller.

Nigel FarageThe party’s support was backed by 19 percent of retirees, compared with support from 17 percent of Conservatives.

The level of support for reform among all over-55s was five points higher than in last week’s Redfield & Wilton poll.

Meanwhile, Tory support among those aged 55 to 64 fell by seven points, while Conservative support among the over-65s fell by six points from last week.

The latest survey was carried out after Mr Farage made a stunning U-turn, announcing he would now stand for election and take charge of reforms.

Mr Farage plans to use his performance in a BBC an election debate tonight to attack the Prime Minister for skipping a major D-Day event.

It came as the Tories expressed fears that the huge row would further damage their standing among older voters.

Reform UK has overtaken the Tories among voters aged over 55, according to a new poll from Redfield & Wilton Strategies

Reform leader Nigel Farage plans to use his appearance in a BBC election debate tonight to attack the Prime Minister for skipping a major D-Day event

The Tories have expressed fears that the huge row over Sunak’s decision to leave Normandy could further damage their standing among older voters.

The Prime Minister apologized this morning for missing a major international D-Day ceremony, saying it was a “mistake” on his part to leave before the commemoration events were over.

He had appeared in northern France earlier on Thursday to pay tribute to veterans.

But Sunak returned to Britain before commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of western Europe were over.

This meant the Prime Minister missed a major international ceremony and meeting of world leaders on Omaha Beach.

It later emerged that Mr Sunak had conducted an interview with ITV on his return to Britain, which he used to continue his election attack on Labor over taxes.

Mr Farage, who was in northern France in a personal capacity yesterday, questioned why Mr Sunak felt he could skip the event with other world leaders.

The leader of Reform UK will face off against rivals from six other parties tonight as he makes his first debate appearance since announcing his return to frontline politics.

Sources close to Mr Farage confirmed he would use the event to raise Mr Sunak’s decision to return from Normandy early yesterday.

The latest Redfield & Wilton poll showed the Tories’ vote share of 19 per cent among all voters was the lowest since Mr Sunak became Prime Minister.

The latest Redfield & Wilton poll showed the Tories’ vote share of 19 per cent among all voters was the lowest since Mr Sunak became prime minister, while reforms had the highest level of support at 17 per cent.

Labor emerged with 42 percent support, giving them a 23-point lead over the Conservatives.

It turned out that Sir Keir Starmer’s party had an advantage over the Tories in every age group.

Labour’s margin over the Conservatives ranged from 42 points among 18-24 year olds (50 percent versus 8 percent) to 11 points among 45-54 year olds (33 percent versus 22 percent).

Reform UK attracted almost a fifth of the vote (19 percent) among each of the three oldest age groups – 45-54, 55-64 and 65+ – but enjoyed the support of just 7 percent of people aged 18 to 24.

Sunak today faced anger within Tory ranks over his decision to skip the international D-Day meeting amid fears he had dealt a crushing blow to the Conservatives’ general election hopes.

A former minister told MailOnline: ‘It simply underlines what terrible advice he is receiving from the No10 operation.

‘And begs the question why he went to the country when D-Day was clearly a major event.

‘He could have been seen as an international statesman, rather than someone who shows no respect for the fallen.

‘And also keep in mind that polls already show that [Nigel] An advantage among the over-55s.’

A Tory defending a northern seat said it could be as bad as Theresa May’s social care announcement in 2017, which sparked her infamous ‘nothing has changed’ U-turn. “We’ll know next week,” they said.

Another told MailOnline that the humiliating episode would particularly harm the older generation of voters the party was targeting.

They expressed concern about a Conservative defeat on July 4, saying: ‘Frankly, I fear a group of 70 led by Priti [Patel] striking a deal with Farage within 18 months becomes possible, even likely.’

Redfield & Wilton surveyed 2,000 British voters online between June 5 and 6.