Reform UK leapfrogs Labour on eve of Andy Burnham’s first conference speech as leader, poll shows

Reform UK has leapfrogged Labour to return to lead the polls once again, just hours before Andy Burnham gives his first big speech as party leader and prime minister.

A new YouGov survey has seen Reform rise four points in the polls to 25 per cent, one per cent ahead of Labour on 24 per cent.

The Tories are down two points on 19 per cent.

But the poll, taken on 27-28 September as Labour’s annual conference got underway, shows the fragility of the so-called ‘Burnham bounce’ despite Reform’s recent controversy surrounding donations.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice took to social media to mock the prime minister, posting: “Burnham Bounces down.”

Reform chair Lee Anderson posted: “Here we go!”

But Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson has sought to play down the poll, saying: “Polls come and polls go, the important thing is we are authentic about ourselves.”

The poll dampens an otherwise positive mood at the Labour conference this week. And the party will take comfort that the threat from the Greens appears to be receding.

YouGov has the Greens on 8 per cent, their lowest share this year.

That comes as Green leader Zack Polanski fights the crucial Holborn and St Pancras seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer.

Ironically, YouGov was singled out earlier this year by Mr Farage when he accused them of deliberately underplaying Reform’s support.

But instead the pollster has found a huge leap in support for Reform this week despite the focus being on Labour and Mr Burnham with the party conference in Liverpool.

The blow to Mr Burnham comes ahead of a speech where the prime minister is expected to tackle thorny areas of policy with briefings on reversing Brexit, ending the triple lock and a desire to set up a national social care service.

Reflecting the conference theme of "Hope again", Mr Burnham will tell delegates that "hope comes from honesty and from saying the things politicians usually avoid".

In his address, he will state: "We can’t carry on as we are. Politics-as-usual has taken Britain backwards. More of the same isn’t good enough and isn’t going to get us where we need to be."

Returning to themes from his initial addresses after taking office, he will attack the centralisation of power held by "vested interests" while pledging a departure from the "flawed thinking of the last 40 years".

The poll though also shows that people are divided on the new prime minister’s messaging with 41 per cent saying he is clear with his vision but 42 per cent saying he is unclear.