Labour Wipes Out Reform UK Poll Lead After 'Burnham Bounce'

Labour has erased Reform UK's poll lead following a surge in support under new leader Andy Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. A DeltaPoll survey conducted July 17-20, 2026, shows both Labour and Reform UK tied at 28%, with the Conservatives trailing at 18%. This marks a significant turnaround from a month earlier when Labour was 8 points behind Reform UK. The boost coincides with Burnham's first cabinet meeting, where he outlined a 'cost of living government' agenda, including cutting VAT on electricity bills (saving households ~£45/year), capping bus fares at £2, and reducing business rates for hospitality by 20%. Meanwhile, Reform UK's momentum has stalled as leader Nigel Farage faces scrutiny over a £5 million gift from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire.