Reform UK has been sharpening its knives to take on Sir Keir Starmer as the Prime Minister sets his sights on a tax raid in Rachel Reeves’ maiden Budget.
The populist party, which is challenging Labour in both the Red Wall and traditional southern bellwether seats, looks poised to ramp up its efforts after a pollster suggested Starmer is underestimating Nigel Farage’s electability.
More in Common pollster Luke Tryl claimed Reform UK provided Labour with a short-term favour in helping Tory support collapse but could soon prove lethal to Starmer’s chances.
“A good chunk of those Tory voters that Reform took were people who had at some point voted Labour,” Tryl told Politico.
“I think it has left Labour on far shakier ground in places like the Red Wall than they would have been if they had targeted Farage differently.
He added: “I understand the glee they would have felt seeing their opponent suffer because the Farage threat emerged, I’m just not convinced it ultimately benefited Labour as much as they think.”
GB News published analysis last month detailing the 63 seats which look set to kickstart Farage’s latest political crusade.
It suggested Reform UK could already snatch Llanelli, South West Norfolk and Sittingbourne & Sheppey from Labour’s grasp, with Dudley and Amber Valley among those where the populist party is trailing by a mere single-digits.
Reform UK’s 58 top targets include 39 seats won by the Tories and 18 picked up by Labour.
Chairman Zia Yusuf clearly believes Reform UK is ready to take the fight to Labour.
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He told GB News: “We have said since the election that we have Labour in our sights and that has not changed.
“Reform came second in 89 seats held by Labour and that was just the start. Starting with the council elections next year, we plan to ruthlessly target Labour held seats and show voters we are the real alternative.
“A recent poll showed that 26 percent of Labour voters at this year’s General Election would consider voting for Reform in the next election.
“Red Wall voters are already feeling betrayed by Labour actively smearing and working against the interests of working British people. Only Reform offers them a brighter future.”
Another Reform UK insider appeared to confirm the populist party is directly targeting Labour after Starmer was accused of giving Farage an easy ride in Clacton.
“Reform will take many votes from Labour,” the source told GB News. “We all agree that the Conservatives deserved to lose the election but Labour didn’t deserve to win.
“There’s been a great sense of buyer’s remorse on the doorsteps. They feel that they’ve been tricked, even duped. The change that people voted for is not the change that they now feel they’re going to get.”
The source added: “We are going to take seats from the Labour Party because the Tory brand is broken, irrespective of whether they pick Jenrick, Badenoch, Cleverly or Tugendhat.
“In the recent elections, we took votes from Labour, the Tories and people who do not vote. That is something unique about Reform and unique about Nigel.”
Reform UK will also hope efforts to democratise the populist party through “pilot” associations will ensure a grassroots base can keep up with established opponents, including the Liberal Democrats.
Labour also expects Reform UK to latch onto the additional burdens imposed on British voters in the upcoming Budget.
Winter Fuel Payments could prove particularly damaging for Labour in the Red Wall, with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson setting out his stall.
He said: “I will name and shame every single Labour MP in Nottinghamshire that voted for this pernicious, cruel Act of Parliament.”
A Labour insider also told GB News: “I’ve always warned them that Reform is a bigger threat to us than the Tories as more Labour voters will likely go there next time just like they did with Ukip.
“The Winter Fuel Payments will propel Reform’s support as people who have potentially paid all their lives now think the Government doesn’t care about them.”
