Reform extends lead as Labour and Conservatives remain locked together, latest poll suggests

Reform UK continues to lead British politics, according to the latest YouGov voting intention survey for The Times and Sky News, with Nigel Farage's party maintaining a clear advantage over both Labour and the Conservatives.

The poll places Reform on 25 per cent, six points ahead of its nearest rivals and comfortably ahead of the two parties that have dominated British politics for more than a century. Although Reform's share of the vote has slipped by two points compared with the previous survey, the movement remains within the margin of error and does little to alter the broader picture that has emerged over recent months.

More striking is the continued struggle of Labour and the Conservatives to establish separation from one another. Both parties are tied on 19 per cent, with each gaining a single point since the previous poll. For Labour, the figures will reinforce concerns that Sir Keir Starmer's government has yet to persuade a substantial proportion of voters that it offers a compelling vision for the country's future. For the Conservatives, the numbers underline the scale of the rebuilding task facing a party still attempting to recover from its electoral defeat.

The survey also highlights the growing fragmentation of the British political landscape.

The Green Party stands on 14 per cent, a figure that would have been considered extraordinary only a few years ago. While support has eased slightly compared with the previous poll, the Greens remain firmly established as a significant force within national politics. The Liberal Democrats sit on 12 per cent, continuing a run of polling that suggests they have maintained much of the support secured at the last general election.

Taken together, the figures suggest that Britain's traditional two-party system continues to face pressure from multiple directions. Reform's rise has reshaped the right of British politics, while the Greens and Liberal Democrats continue to attract support from voters seeking alternatives to Labour.

For Reform, the challenge now becomes one of sustainability. Leading a voting intention poll is one thing; translating that support into parliamentary representation under Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system is another. Nevertheless, the party's ability to remain ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives represents a remarkable development in modern British politics.

The findings also come at a difficult time for the government. A series of recent polls have suggested uncertainty among voters about Labour's direction and priorities, while concerns over economic growth, public services and living standards continue to dominate political debate. Although Labour remains relatively stable in the latest survey, the party has yet to demonstrate the polling advantage typically associated with governments early in a parliamentary term.

For the Conservatives, meanwhile, the numbers offer limited encouragement. While support has edged upwards, the party remains well below the levels traditionally required to mount a serious challenge for government. The continued strength of Reform remains a particular obstacle, with right-of-centre voters appearing divided between the two parties.

The poll suggests that the electorate remains unusually fluid. Significant numbers of voters appear willing to move between parties, while support is spread more broadly than at any point in recent political history. Such fragmentation creates opportunities for smaller parties, but it also increases uncertainty about how polling figures would translate into seats at a general election.

With four parties now polling in double digits and Reform continuing to lead the field, British politics appears increasingly defined not by a contest between two dominant forces, but by competition across a far more crowded political landscape.

Latest YouGov voting intention figures for The Times and Sky News:

Reform UK: 25% Conservative: 19% Labour: 19% Green: 14% Liberal Democrat: 12% SNP: 3% Restore Britain: 3% Plaid Cymru: 2% Others: 4%

Source: YouGov poll for The Times and Sky News.