Nigel Farage's right-wing party, Reform UK, has emerged as the second most popular political force in Britain, trailing the Labour Party by only one percentage point, according to a YouGov

opinion poll released on Tuesday.

Six months after Labour’s sweeping electoral victory, with the next general election not expected until 2029, the poll revealed that 26% of voters would back Labour if an election were held tomorrow, while 25% would support Reform UK. The Conservative Party followed with 22% of the vote.

This is the first YouGov poll since the July 4 election and highlights a surge in support for Reform UK, which secured 14% of the vote last summer. The party appears to be drawing voters away from both the Conservatives and Labour, albeit to a lesser extent from the latter.

Despite having only five lawmakers in Britain’s 650-seat parliament, Reform UK has garnered attention as a rising populist alternative to the traditional dominance of Labour and the Conservatives. The party’s growing influence is reflected in its ability to win over more than 4 million voters nationwide.

Labour, led by Keir Starmer, benefited from widespread dissatisfaction with the 14 years of Conservative rule. However, the new government has faced early challenges, including criticism over ministers accepting perks and backlash against an unpopular tax-raising budget. According to the poll, only 54% of those who voted Labour in the last election would do so again.

Reform UK has previously enjoyed the endorsement of prominent figures, including Elon Musk, who was once a vocal supporter of Farage. However, the Tesla CEO has since withdrawn his backing for the party. Musk has also thrown his support behind Germany’s far-right, anti-immigration AfD party ahead of the upcoming national elections in February. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.