Labour grows narrow lead over Reform ahead of party conference

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Ipsos found that voting intention for Andy Burnham’s party fell by one point over the past month — less than the two points for Nigel Farage’s far-right populists.

The Lib Dems also saw a 1 per cent drop while the Tories’ grew by three points and the Greens’ one.

Overall, 27 per cent said they would vote Labour at the next general election, 23 said Reform,  21 the Conservatives, 13 the Greens and 8 per cent the Lib Dems.

The polling also showed 58 per cent of the public considered Reform UK “extreme” and six in 10 disagree that they are ready for government.

Seven in 10, however, remain dissatisfied with how the Labour government is running and Mr Burnham’s popularity fell over the past month.

Ipsos UK director of politics Keiran Pedley said Mr Burnham has “plenty of reasons… to be cautiously optimistic.”

He said: “Perceptions of the Labour Party have improved on his watch, with Labour seen as more fit to govern than its main rivals, and Burnham himself is preferred to Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage as Prime Minister.

“Yet, despite public reservations about the Conservatives and Reform UK’s readiness for government there are still reasons for caution.

“Labour’s poll lead is narrow and seven in 10 are still dissatisfied with how the country is being run. Furthermore, Burnham’s satisfaction ratings as Prime Minister are nothing to write home about by historic standards.

“With a key by-election around the corner — and an even more important Budget — Andy Burnham and Labour should not take their current poll advantage for granted.”