Yahoo UK’s poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week’s hot topics. After the poll closes, we’ll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.
Reform UK continues to go from win to win after securing some stunning victories at last week’s local elections.
Last week, Reform trounced the Conservatives and Labour in the local elections, winning almost 700 councillors, several councils, two mayors and an MP.
Since then, Labour has promised to deliver on its pledges even faster, but there has been a lot of disquiet among the backbenchers over the cuts to the winter fuel allowance and benefits.
On the Conservative side, the Tories continue to struggle to find an answer to the rise of Reform, with many voters still blaming them for the cost of living crisis that led to their crushing defeat in last year’s general election.
Some MPs have said Reform’s victory last week was a high watermark for the party who will now struggle to deliver on their promises now they hold several positions of power at a local level across England.
But a YouGov poll published on Wednesday showed Reform as the most popular party in the UK and opening up a sizable lead over second-place Labour.
The poll showed Reform on 29%, Labour on 22% and Tories on 17%, Lib Dems on 16%, and the Greens on 10%.
Reform’s success has also seen them potentially upend politics in Wales and Scotland as well, with both due to have elections next year.
A poll published earlier this week put them second in Scotland behind the SNP, and Labour pushed into third.
It is a similar story in Wales, with a YouGov poll finding Labour, who currently govern in Wales, in third place at 18% behind Plaid Cymru on 30% and Reform on 25%.
The Conservatives, who are currently the main opposition, were in fourth on 13%.
With Reform storming ahead, we asked Yahoo News readers what they thought the chances of Reform forming the next government were and just shy of half of the respondents were confident Reform would win the next general election.
Some 49% said Reform would form the next government, compared to just 13% who predicted they would decline soon. 12% of respondents thought Reform’s success was overblown, and 11% said they thought Farage’s party would be the next Opposition.
Only 15% of respondents were unsure of the future, with 11% saying it was too hard to predict and 4% choosing none of the above.
In the poll’s Have Your Say feature, K.C from Herefordshire sounded alarmed at Reform’s success.
They said: “Very concerned for minority people. The party just seems to wire itself into the generalised hate of people who are not Mr Average. Its leader spends more time off all around the country and world making himself money from ‘appearances’ at events than in his actual constituency!
“Bad times ahead if they gain more control.”
Alan C from Welwyn agreed: “Reform is a ragtag bunch of far-right xenophobic populist preaching division and hate. Farage, already responsible for a catastrophic Brexit that has made the UK poorer, less competitive and less influential, would be a disastrous PM that would alienate our friends and trading partners and drag the UK into a backwater.
“And he’d do away with the NHS and replace it with a USA type system. So, don’t get ill unless you have enough money in the bank to pay for treatment.”
Kevin M from Oban said: “It’s quite scary how easily folk have been led by a lot of lies and misinformation from Reform, and parts of the media who parrot them.
“We don’t want this country turning into a Little Trumpian USA. Just look at the damage of Brexit, which is all thanks to Farage and chums?
“With Farage wanting to destroy the NHS with private healthcare, taking away workers’ rights, scrapping climate change protections, and demonising minorities, while sitting in Trump and Putin’s pocket, and lining the pockets of the billionaires, while making life tougher for the working class.
“It’s not something I want for the future of the country. Wake up people!”
Nancy B from Wellington said: “I dislike Farage and Reform UK. I think they would destroy our NHS, but some people are unaware of this. The NHS is not perfect, but we need it.
Some respondents were cautiously welcoming of Reform’s chance to govern some regions.
Josie Y from Cornwall said: “Not very happy, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, seems to me to be rather a divisive character.
“It is very easy to criticise as he does well. Let’s hope the new Reform council members will prove me wrong do a good and responsible job for their communities.”
Jessica P from Cambridge said: “I can understand why people have voted in this way, but at the same time, I am very concerned. Labour has stepped into a very broken state, which is not going to be fixed overnight.
“I am especially concerned about Reform’s DEI views and Farage’s closeness to Donald Trump, who is a very dangerous and divisive individual.
“I do agree with some of the things Nigel Farage has said, but overall cannot and do not like the fact that Reform has gained so much support. It is worrying.”
Robin C from Ipswich said: “It is hardly surprising given the current government’s attacks on pensioners and those with disabilities, rather than the very rich who could easily afford to give that money. And Farage makes hay sitting on the sidelines and sniping.
“In 2016, Cameron, fearful of his Party’s right wing, and Farage influence on it, called a referendum, which gave Farage the platform he wanted, and he has milked it mercilessly ever since.”
But many other respondents sounded excited about the chance to end the two-party system.
Mike O from Durham said: “Fantastic result, Reform is the only party speaking sense, we are well overdue for a change of governing body, parliamentary and locally.
“As a veteran and a pensioner, I feel I now have something to look forward to, rather than being penalised year in year out.”
White R.J from Chatham said: “Reform will change the population’s views as we now have real opposition with this new party.
“We believe its promises will be fulfilled, unlike Labour who promised much, just to get into power then lied.
“They picked on the pensioners, now the disabled, where no one has ever been so mean. Taxes on pensions. Taking away the Winter Fuel Allowance, did they think we would forget that ever? No way, you will be punished for a long, long time.”
Don F from Hereford said: “Other two parties have nothing to offer the voters of this country. We’re tired of broken promises and want a party to represent the people.
M Turner from Swansea said: “A good wakeup for Labour, but as yet not a real party with polices, they are getting votes by being populists, doesn’t work in the real world.”
