Farage Approval Hits New Low as Reform UK's Poll Lead Narrows Amid Finance Row

Nigel Farage's personal approval rating fell to net -27 — the lowest of the current Parliament — in an Opinium poll conducted 7-10 July 2026, as Reform UK's voting intention slipped two points to 24%, its lowest share since January 2025. Pollster James Crouch said 'for the first time this Parliament, Nigel Farage looks politically vulnerable.' A separate Ipsos poll (25-30 June) found Reform's lead over Labour had narrowed to just two points, down five points on the previous month, with 63% of Britons saying they were 'dissatisfied' with Farage, up from 49% a year earlier; only 16% named him their preferred choice for PM against 30% for Andy Burnham. The decline coincides with a parliamentary standards commissioner investigation into Farage's failure to declare a £5 million gift from Thailand-based crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne ahead of the 2024 election, as well as scrutiny of financial assistance he received from a convicted fraudster before entering Parliament.