Reform UK overtake Conservative Party in one key area after Nigel Farage bombshell
Reform UK has overtaken the Conservative Party among a key group of voters, the latest voter intention poll shows.
Reform UK has overtaken the Conservative Party with voters aged 55-64 in a shock General Election poll. Redfield & Wilton Strategies' polling shows 19 percent from the age group backed Nigel Farage's party while 14 percent support the Tories, in a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The lead narrows among retirees, with 19 percent saying they will vote Reform UK against 17 percent opting for the Tories, according to Redfield & Wilton's voting intention poll carried out from June 5-6.
Reform's surge comes after Mr Farage performed a U-turn and announced he was standing as a candidate in Clacton-on-Sea and assuming leadership of the party from Richard Tice.
Redfield & Wilton's poll shows Labour leading among every age cohort polled, with its support highest among 18-24 year olds (50 percent).
The poll comes ahead of a General Election debate on the BBC on Friday (June 7), during which Mr Farage is tipped to attack Mr Sunak after the prime minister skipped part of yesterday's D-Day commemorations in France.
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Mr Farage today tweeted that "patriotic people" who love their country shouldn't vote for Mr Sunak.
On unverified reports the PM initially planned to skip the commemorations altogether, Reform UK's leader tweeted: "Now we learn that Rishi Sunak's original plan was not to attend the D-Day 80th at all.
"Patriotic people who love their country should not vote for him."
The Prime Minister said "it was a mistake" not to remain in France after coming under fire for missing part of the event with world leaders to return to the UK for an interview with ITV.
Mr Sunak said: "I care deeply about veterans and have been honoured to represent the UK at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days and to meet those who fought so bravely.
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"After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer - and I apologise."
Reform UK is set on eating into Tory support its previous incarnation, the Brexit Party, backed out of the 2019 General Election in a pact with the Conservatives to secure Britain's exit from the European Union.
Mr Farage had hinted he would be interested in a pact with the Tories but former Reform leader played down the remarks made in May before the new party leader announced his candidacy.
YouGov's first MRP projection of the General Election results showed earlier this week that Reform UK will come away with no seats while the Conservatives will be reduced to 140 seats, with Labour projected to win 422.
