Reform polled higher than any other party in Wales this weekend, latest research from Opinium has shown.
The respected pollsters found Nigel Farage’s party to be polling 28 per cent in Wales, larger than Labour’s 26 per cent and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on 13 per cent each.
This marks a huge shift in fortunes for Reform who won no MPs in Wales in the General Election, despite securing 223,018 votes (16.9 per cent of all ballots cast).
Labour meanwhile won 27 of 32 seats, mostly at the expense of the Tories who lost all 12 of their seats in a regional wipe out.
More worryingly for Labour, Wales’ regional government the Senedd uses a proportional voting system that allocates seats via votes cast, benefitting Reform far more than Westminster’s First Past The Post (FPTP) system.
If you applied this polling to the Senedd elections, Reform would immediately become one of the biggest parties in the parliament and a major player in the Welsh political landscape.
The Labour bastion of Wales, which has been ruled by Keir Starmer’s party since devolution began 25 years ago, appears to be considering a change of leadership.
A crisis-ridden NHS with some of the worst waiting times in Britain, the lowest educational ranking of the home nations and Vaughan Gething’s disastrous 118-day premiership have all sown discontent into the Welsh people.
This goes without mentioning Labour’s attack on farmers from Westminster, a national policy but one that has been supported by Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan who said ‘farmers need to calm down a bit.’
Reform also held a large party conference in Newport’s Celtic Manor hotel recently, highlighting their commitment to Wales.
Opinium’s poll also recorded Reform’s highest score UK-wide as the party hit 21 per cent, just three percentage points behind the Conservatives.
It found Labour’s lead had subsided to 30 per cent, the Tories remained on 24 per cent while Nigel Farage’s party were up one per cent to go within three of Kemi Badenoch’s.
Reform UK Chairman, Zia Yusuf said: “This polling confirms what we all know, Reform UK has all the momentum in British politics.
LATEST FROM MEBERSHIP:
“We are reconstituting the centre right of British politics and our national support has now reached new highs at 21 per cent.
“Whilst the Tories flounder despite a new leader, we are closing in on 100,000 members and preparing to fight and win council seats across the country next May.”
This comes after news Labour has been getting hammered at the ballot box in council elections since the General Election.
Analysis shows Labour has lost 22 seats, over 40 per cent of seats they have defended since July 4.
The Conservatives have been the main beneficiaries gaining 17 seats, while Reform and the Lib Dems have gained three each.
