Politics · United Kingdom · 5 hrs ago
Poll puts Conservatives ahead of Reform as Britain’s main opposition
An Ipsos poll puts the Conservatives ahead of Reform UK as the party voters see as Britain’s main opposition.
It surveyed public views after Kemi Badenoch’s party conference and found the Conservatives leading Reform by 35% to 32%.
In May, Reform had a 28-point lead in the same measure.
Among people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election, the Conservatives now lead Reform by 13 points as the main opposition choice.
The poll also found more voters think Badenoch could become prime minister, while fewer expect Reform leader Nigel Farage to enter No 10.
The article links the shift to Conservative policy announcements and Reform’s recent scandals, though it does not establish what caused the change.
Poll experts say the party must wait four to six weeks to see whether its post-conference rise lasts.
An Ipsos poll puts the Conservatives three points ahead of Reform UK as the party voters see as the main opposition.
The poll found 35 per cent chose the Conservatives and 32 per cent chose Reform.
The Conservatives had trailed Reform by 28 points in May, according to the article.
Among people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election, the Conservatives now lead Reform by 13 points on the question.
The poll also found that 32 per cent think Kemi Badenoch could become prime minister, up from 24 per cent a year earlier.
- Who
- The Conservatives, led by Kemi Badenoch, and Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage.
- What
- An Ipsos poll found more people see the Conservatives than Reform as the main opposition.
- When
- Published on 16 October 2026. The poll was reported on Friday night.
- Where
- Britain.
- Why
- The article says the Conservatives have gained support after Badenoch’s party conference, while Reform has faced scandals. Ipsos’s Keiran Pedley said people increasingly know what Badenoch stands for.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reform held a 28-point lead over the Conservatives in the poll on who voters saw as the main opposition.
The article reported that the Ipsos poll put the Conservatives three points ahead of Reform.
- Ipsos poll
- Conservatives 35 per cent; Reform UK 32 per cent
- Change since May
- Conservatives moved from 28 points behind Reform to three points ahead
- Labour 2024 voters
- Conservatives lead Reform by 13 points on who is the main opposition
- Badenoch as prime minister
- 32 per cent say she is likely to become prime minister, up from 24 per cent a year earlier
- Farage as prime minister
- 33 per cent say he is likely to enter No 10, down from 50 per cent in May
1 source
What people are saying
We're seeing consistently over time people increasingly saying it is clear what Kemi stands for, with her ratings improving over time.
There's a sense of a battle for hearts and minds on the Right of British politics, which it very much looked like Reform had won [by May].
It's sensible to be cautious – where will we be in November/December?
The Tories have got to wait another four to six weeks to be certain that their post-conference poll bounce remains as more than just a bounce.