Nigel Farage's approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since the general election, a new Opinium poll indicates, amid scrutiny of his finances. The survey shows his rating has dropped to -27, with over half of voters expressing disapproval and only a quarter approving.
This marks the lowest rating for Farage of the current parliamentary term, placing him behind all major party leaders except for outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who registered -45. In comparison, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's rating improved to -3, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey remained at -5, and Green leader Zack Polanski saw a slight rise to -16. Andy Burnham, the presumptive Labour leader and future Prime Minister, polled at -8.
The poll also revealed a decline in Reform UK's popularity, with its vote share falling to its lowest level since early January of the previous year. The party garnered 24 percent of voter support, a two-point decrease from the prior week, representing Reform's weakest performance in an Opinium poll in over 18 months. Labour leads with 19 percent, followed by the Conservatives at 18 percent, the Greens at 16 percent, and the Liberal Democrats at 12 percent.
Farage has recently triggered a by-election in the Clacton seat he won during the 2024 general election. This decision comes amidst a parliamentary standards investigation into a £5 million gift he received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. Additionally, Farage is facing questions regarding reported support from George Cottrell, an individual with a criminal conviction.
Farage has stated his intention to contest the by-election, scheduled for August 13, as a "people versus the establishment" campaign. However, other parties have criticized the move, with some boycotting the contest, leaving comedian Count Binface as Farage's most prominent opponent. The poll further indicated Farage's weakest ratings are in areas of trustworthiness (-32), suitability to be Prime Minister (-26), and capability to make major decisions (-24).
James Crouch of Opinium commented that "For the first time this Parliament, Nigel Farage looks politically vulnerable." He added that "Reform's vote share has fallen into the low 20s, his personal ratings have hit a new low, and the standards row appears to be taking a real toll." Crouch concluded by stating, "The question now is whether Labour or the Conservatives can capitalize."