Nigel Farage celebrates huge boost as pollster reveals how many seats Reform could win

Reform UK could win up to four seats in the General Election after Nigel Farage's stunning comeback, according to a pollster.

Patrick English of YouGov said Mr Farage's announcement that he is returning as Reform's leader and standing in Clacton “significantly increases the odds” that the insurgent party will end up with MPs.

He told The Independent: “I do think that Farage intervening significantly increases the odds of Reform UK winning one, perhaps even two seats in Westminster.

"You might even put an upper band of four on that, depending on what exactly happens between now and 4 July."

Mr English said seats to watch include the Essex town where Mr Farage is running and Lee Anderson's Ashfield constituency.

The pollster said: "We’re looking at Clacton. We’re looking at Ashfield, because Lee Anderson is standing there trying to defend his seat as a defector. We’re looking at Boston and Skegness where Richard Tice is standing.

“We’re also looking up toward Barnsley and Doncaster. There are a couple of seats there where the Brexit Party did very well in 2019, but I think Reform UK could potentially be very strong there as well.”

Reacting, Mr Farage said: "Now YouGov says Reform UK can win seats at the election. Something is happening out there."

It comes after a poll by Survation suggested the insurgent party could win three seats.

According to analysis by the company, Reform has a one in four chance of winning Gainsborough and North West Norfolk.

The former Brexit Party also has a one in five chance of victory in Clacton, although it does not take into account Mr Farage's candidacy in the Essex town.

Reform faces an uphill struggle as it is difficult for new parties to break through the first past-the-post-electoral system.

The MRP analysis is based on online and telephone interviews of 30,044 British adults carried out between May 22 and June 2 by Survation on behalf of Best for Britain.