Reform UK has fallen to its lowest point in YouGov's voting intention poll in 17 months, as the only major pollster that had recently shown the party ahead of Labour now places Nigel Farage's party in second. The latest survey, published on August 11, shows Labour leading with 24% support, while Reform trails at 22%, with the Conservatives close behind at 21%.
YouGov's August Poll Shows Labour Lead
The new figures mark a significant shift from the previous YouGov poll on August 3, which had put Reform in the lead and prompted a triumphant response from home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. Writing on X, Yusuf claimed the survey showed Reform was 'BACK IN THE LEAD', though YouGov had actually shown the party on top since April last year. He attributed the lead to 'the inevitable honeymoon period for a new Labour PM and daily hit pieces on Reform from the establishment media', adding: 'Keep calm and carry on Reformers!'
According to the latest YouGov survey, Labour's support appears to have been boosted by a squeeze on the Liberal Democrats, who are now on just 11%, and the Green Party, which stands at 12% – though the latter still enjoys strong backing from 41% of 18 to 24-year-olds. This is the first time in 18 months that Labour has come out on top of Reform UK in YouGov's poll, and the lowest score for Reform since March 2025.
Clacton By-Election Looms for Farage
The timing of the poll is particularly awkward for Nigel Farage, who faces a by-election in his Clacton constituency on Thursday. Although he is widely expected to retain his seat, his 'people versus the establishment' campaign has struggled to capture public attention amid a policy blitz from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Farage may also face the embarrassment of novelty candidate Count Binface being backed by a fifth or more of the constituency's voters. Binface has become the protest vote of choice for critics of the Reform leader, especially after the major parties opted not to field candidates in the race, which they described as a 'stunt' and a 'vanity project'.
Record Number of Candidates in By-Election
A total of 34 people are running in the Clacton by-election – a record for a British parliamentary election. The field includes actor-turned-Twitter enthusiast Laurence Fox and three separate Monster Raving Looney Party candidates. The by-election is set to be a closely watched contest, with Farage's performance likely to have implications for his party's momentum.
The YouGov poll is the latest in a series of surveys that have shown Labour consolidating its position under new leadership. While Reform UK had been leading in some polls earlier in the year, the latest figures suggest that the party's support may be waning as the political landscape shifts.
