Shock poll finds Nigel Farage should take over Tories if Rishi Sunak loses election
A new bombshell survey will spark panic among established Conservatives as Reform UK continues its surge in the polls - with their sights set on overtaking the Tories.
A new bombshell poll has revealed that Nigel Farage is the top choice to take over as Conservative leader if Labour wins the General Election.
The poll by Redfield and Wilton, conducted for The Independent, surveyed 2,000 adults on Wednesday and Thursday - before Mr Farage scored another resounding victory at last night's BBC debate.
The results from the survey found that 19 percent of voters - almost one in five - think Mr Farage should take over from Mr Sunak, with 22 percent of 2019 Conservative voters supporting the idea.
Penny Mordaunt was second with 15 percent, while James Cleverly (6 percent), Kemi Badenoch (5 percent), Suella Braverman (4 percent), Priti Patel (2 percent) and Robert Jenrick (1 percent) all lagged behind the Reform UK leader.
Voters who did not know which politician should replace Mr Sunak as leader of the Conservatives made up the largest share, with 48 percent.
Worryingly for the Conservatives, 37 percent of those asked said the Reform UK party should replace the Conservatives as the major opposition to Labour after the next election - more than the 30 percent who disagreed.
Both Mr Farage and the former Reform leader Richard Tice have repeatedly said they want to replace the Conservatives as the main opposition party.
This comes amid a torrid 48 hours for Rishi Sunak's party, following the PM's decision to leave the D-Day commemoration events early on Thursday.
The PM apologised for the blunder yesterday morning after widespread backlash. He has cancelled plans to speak with the media today while out on the campaign trail.
The Reform UK leader was among those who criticised Mr Sunak's D-Day blunder. He said it showed he was "completely disconnected from the country, adding: "He has proved to me that he is not a patriotic leader of the Conservative Party."
At the same time, Mr Farage's entry into the race this week has boosted Reform UK's electoral chances.
The latest YouGov poll of UK voters for Sky News showed Reform had pulled to within two points of the Conservatives.
Earlier today, the new party leader tweeted that Reform UK membership has reached 40,000 today, posting: "Something is happening out here."
Also today, another poll from Redfield & Wilton, showed a neck-and-neck race in Wales between Reform and the Conservatives for second place. The two parties were tied among Welsh voters in the latest polling, with each receiving 18 percent support. Both parties trailed Labour, which is far ahead at 45 percent.
