A MAJOR polling company has put Reform UK in the lead for the first time.
Nigel Farage’s party beat the Labour Party in a YouGov voting intention poll published by Sky News on Monday.
It showed that if a General Election were held tomorrow, 25% of UK voters would choose Reform, 24% chose Labour and 21% would vote for the Tories.
The UK-wide poll also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%.
While this is the first time Reform UK have topped this particular poll, it is within the margin of error.
It is not the first time Reform UK have polled first in a UK-wide poll, however.
The party topped a Find Out Now Westminster poll last week, with Farage’s party on 26% of the vote – outstripping the Tories (on 23%) and pushing Labour into third place (on 22%).
It comes as YouGov boss Steve Hatch has stepped down from the research firm after criticism of its performance by activist investors.
Shares in the company have dropped by more than half since he became chief executive in 2023.
The London-listed company, which is well known for its political polling, said Hatch has left the company with immediate effect and will be replaced by current chairman, and previous chief executive, Stephan Shakespeare on an interim basis.
It will also launch a recruitment process to find a permanent successor.
Hatch’s exit comes after activist shareholder Gatemore Capital wrote to the firm’s board last month calling for him to be replaced.
Gatemore, which owns a 1.3% stake in the business, called for an interim boss to come in and undertake a strategic review of the firm to revive its ailing share valuation.
On Tuesday, Hatch said: “My sincere thanks to all at YouGov for their hard work and inspiration over the last 18 months.
“It is the right time for a change and I wish Stephan, the board and all at YouGov the very best for the future.”
