Kemi Badenoch's public popularity has reached its highest level among Conservative leaders in over five years, according to a recent YouGov survey. In the week she publicly challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham's approach to national policy, Badenoch's net favorability rating stood at minus 11.
Conversely, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has seen his public rating drop to its joint lowest point in a decade. The survey of 2,063 adults found that only 22 percent of Britons hold a positive view of Farage, with 68 percent viewing him negatively. Over half of the public, 56 percent, expressed a "very unfavorable" opinion of him. This results in a net favorability rating of -46, a figure comparable to ratings seen for Boris Johnson following 'partygate' and Sir Keir Starmer before his resignation as Prime Minister.
In contrast, Prime Minister Andy Burnham recorded a positive net favorability rating of plus 3.
The YouGov poll also indicated a narrowing gap in voting intentions between the major parties and Reform UK. Reform's support fell to 23 percent, while the Conservatives rose to 21 percent and Labour to 20 percent within the past week. The data emerges as Farage faces scrutiny over a £5 million payment received from a cryptocurrency investor shortly before his return to public life.
The Conservative Party has urged HM Revenue and Customs to investigate whether this payment constitutes 'disguised remuneration,' potentially making it liable for income tax. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake suggested that if the payment was intended as a reward or compensation connected to Farage's roles within Reform UK, its tax treatment might differ from that of a personal gift or a standard political donation. A spokesperson for Farage denied any wrongdoing, stating the payment was personal and unconditional, and that no tax is owed, characterizing the inquiry as a desperate move by the Conservative Party.