Kemi Badenoch Leads Nigel Farage in Voter Preference Poll

More than one in five Reform supporters believe Kemi Badenoch would be a better Prime Minister than Nigel Farage, according to a new YouGov poll. The survey indicates that the Conservative leader has gained the upper hand in the competition for the right-wing electorate.

Specifically, 22 percent of Reform voters expressed a preference for Badenoch as Prime Minister over their own party leader. In contrast, only 14 percent of Conservative voters indicated they would prefer Farage to Badenoch in a head-to-head scenario.

The poll also revealed that 57 percent of Reform voters would rather have Badenoch as Prime Minister than Labour leader Andy Burnham, while only 36 percent of Conservative voters favored Farage over Burnham. Overall, three times as many Britons favor Badenoch over Farage for the role of Prime Minister.

In a direct comparison, 43 percent of those surveyed believe Badenoch would perform better as Prime Minister than Farage, while 15 percent favor Farage. This represents a significant shift from August 2025, when public opinion was evenly split between the two leaders.

Badenoch has recently urged Reform supporters to return to the Conservative party, stating in her conference speech that they "deserve better" than a party whose leaders face scrutiny over scandals.

The YouGov poll, which surveyed 2,355 adults, also showed Badenoch leading Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey by 36 percent to 24 percent, her largest lead to date. She also holds a comfortable lead over the Green Party's Zack Polanski.

However, the poll indicated that Andy Burnham remains the preferred choice for Prime Minister among Britons when compared to other main party leaders, holding a 40 percent to 28 percent lead over Badenoch. Burnham also has a 28-point lead over Farage, with 50 percent favoring him as the better Prime Minister compared to 22 percent for Farage.

Separately, a poll tracker suggests the Conservative party has overtaken Reform for the first time in nearly two years. Focus groups have reportedly shown a growing appreciation for Badenoch's direct approach and her policy proposals on tax and welfare cuts.

Meanwhile, Farage has faced controversies regarding party donations and scandals involving local councillors. He confirmed he has been interviewed by the Commons sleaze watchdog concerning an undisclosed £5 million gift.