Reform is WIPING out the Tories in Midlands and North - new shock poll

Reform UK are continuing to keep their hold over the North and the Midlands, according to a new national poll.

After Nigel Farage announced he would be taking over as leader of Reform UK, the party shot up in the polls across the country, but the party has the strongest hold in the Midlands and the North.

Figures from June 13, taken from a YouGov daily tracker show in the Midlands, Reform UK is striding ahead of the Tories with 24 per cent of the vote share while the Conservatives sit at 19 per cent.

The fight for the North is more close between the Tories and Reform but Farage's party are keeping their lead at 21 per cent while the Conservatives lag behind at 19 per cent.

Nigel Farage

However, in both the Midlands and the North the Labour Party is leading strongly with 42 per cent in the Midlands and 44 per cent in the North.

The figures have dropped slightly for Reform in the Midlands since June 4 when Reform pushed ahead of the Tories at 25 percent.

But in the North, Reform is polling at the same percentage of the vote (21 per cent) as last week, while the Conservatives have risen three points.

In London, Reform has also overtaken the Conservative Party with 14 per cent of the vote share, while the Tories sit at 13 per cent.

Nigel Farage

It comes as Farage's party overtook the Conservatives for the first time, setting Sunak's campaign back.

Reform climbed 2 per cent in the polls overtaking the Tories who remain at 18 per cent, putting Labour on 37 per cent.

Farage said in an ITV election event on Thursday evening: "Just before we came on air, we overtook the Conservatives in national opinion polls. We are now the opposition to Labour."

Speaking earlier on Thursday, Reform's leader said he would be willing to lead a merged Reform-Conservative grouping.

Nigel Farage

Speaking on LBC, he said: "I don't know what it's called, but do I think I could end up leading a national opposition to a Labour party with a big majority, where I can stand up and hold them to account on issues."

When asked if he would be "happy to lead a merged party," Farage responded: "Yes."

But when asked if he would lead the Conservative Party, Farage admitted he wouldn't as it currently stands but said he "would be prepared to lead the centre right in this country; a centre right that stands up for small business, a centre right that believes in borders, a centre right that isn't scared about standing up for the British people."

Earlier this week, Suella Braverman, former home secretary, said that the Conservatives should embrace Farage as there was "not much difference" between his policies and the Tories.