One in five 2019 Conservative voters now plan on voting for Richard Tice’s Reform Party, according to a new poll signalling growing support for the right-wing party.
19 percent saying they intend to back Reform represents an increase on similar polling in December, when 15 percent voiced support for the party.
Backing for Reform among former Tory voters is now more than double the number of 2019 Tory voters backing Labour.
Responding to the crucial findings, Reform leader Richard Tice told the Express: “British politics is changing fast and the old Tory fortress is crumbling in front of our eyes”.
A party spokesman added: “What these figures show is a slow, but sustainable growth in the support for Reform UK”.
“People are realising that the Conservative’s broken, and defunct political carcass has nothing left to offer the country, and Labour are as bitterly divisive as ever, they also are beginning to see in Reform something positive and constructive.”
Labour has gained just nine percent of Boris Johnson’s voters, down four points from the 13 percent who backed them in the December poll.
The polling, from research consultancy WPI, provides a stark warning for Rishi Sunak, who despite positive polling about Labour this morning is struggling to hold together his voter coalition.
Just 37 percent of 2019 Tory voters say they would definitely vote for Mr Sunak if there were an election tomorrow.
22 percent haven’t made up their minds yet.
In contrast to one poll on Wednesday morning suggesting Labour’s lead had plummeted by 7 percent, WPI finds Sir Keir Starmer’s lead holding steady at 23 points.
The state of the NHS ranks as voters’ number one priority, with 60 percent saying it’s a top issue. The economy came in second at 56 percent.
Unsurprisingly, immigration is the single most important electoral factor for Reform UK voters, with a whopping 87 percent citing it as their priority.
WPI finds that the upcoming Spring Budget on 6 March is the Tories’ biggest opportunity to win over wavering voters, with 68 percent of people saying they want to hear what Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has to say.
45 percent of voters say they want the Government to prioritise increasing the amount people earn before paying income tax, with an even higher rate of 2019 Tory voters supporting such a move.
37 percent said the Government should prioritise cutting council tax, followed by 28 percent who want the 20 percent basic income tax rate cut.
Just one in six voters want the Government to focus on National Insurance or Inheritance Tax cuts.
