YouGov poll shows Reform UK ahead of Labour
A YouGov poll indicates Reform UK has overtaken Labour in voting intention, suggesting the initial boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham may be fading.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A new YouGov poll has placed Reform UK ahead of Labour in voting intention, suggesting that the initial boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham may be fading. The survey, published on the day of the broadcast, shows Reform UK in poll position with Labour slipping to second place. This comes just two weeks after Burnham took over as Labour leader, following a period of deep unpopularity for the party under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
The so-called 'Burnham bounce' had seen Labour surge in earlier polls after Burnham's election, but the latest figures indicate that honeymoon period may already be ending. Political commentators have noted that while a new leader can generate fresh hope, the underlying challenges facing the party remain unchanged: the same MPs, the same economic pressures, and the same issues around borders and taxation.
Supporters of Burnham argue that it is too early to judge his leadership. One of his close allies, Sasha Lord, who served as his night-time economy adviser in Manchester, said the bounce had not even started yet. She pointed to the recent by-election in Makerfield, where Burnham won, and claimed that even when all other parties' votes were combined, Burnham still had more votes than them. She also highlighted early policy announcements, including a further 20% discount for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, as evidence that Burnham is delivering for key sectors.
However, the poll suggests that Reform UK is now the party to beat, capitalising on any disillusionment with Labour's new leadership. The full implications of this shift will become clearer as the political landscape continues to evolve ahead of the next general election.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| A YouGov poll showed Reform UK leading and Labour in second place. | |
| Andy Burnham announced a 20% discount for pubs, clubs, and live music venues. | |
| In the Makerfield by-election, Andy Burnham received more votes than all other parties combined. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News framed the story as a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Labour, questioning whether the 'Burnham bounce' was already over. The channel gave significant airtime to a Burnham ally, Sasha Lord, who defended the new leader and argued the bounce had not yet begun. The tone was sceptical of Labour's prospects, with the host using phrases like 'the same old banger' to describe the party's underlying problems.
- “a shock you could pull published today now has put Reform UK back into poll position, nudging Labour into second place.”
- “I actually don't think the bounce has started yet, to be honest.”
- “lift the bonnet and it's still the same old banger.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.