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PoliticsDeltaPoll: Labour Erases Reform UK Lead, Both Tied at 28%
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Labour has erased Reform UK's poll lead following Andy Burnham's ascension to party leader and Prime Minister, replacing Keir Starmer. A DeltaPoll survey conducted July 17-20, 2026, shows both Labour and Reform UK at 28%, with the Conservatives trailing at 18%. This marks an 8-point gain for Labour from a month earlier, while Reform's support has stalled amid questions about a £5 million gift to Nigel Farage from a crypto billionaire. Burnham chaired his first cabinet meeting, pledging a 'cost of living government' and announcing VAT cuts on electricity bills, a £2 bus fare cap, and a 20% cut in business rates for hospitality. A separate YouGov poll shows Reform's lead reduced to 2 points over the Tories, with Labour one point behind. Farage has called for an immediate general election, arguing Burnham lacks a mandate.
Source report
Labour has wiped out Reform UK's poll lead following a surge in support under new leader Andy Burnham, according to new polling data.
Research by DeltaPoll places both parties at 28%, putting them well ahead of the Conservatives on 18%.
This marks a significant turnaround from just one month ago, when Labour stood at only 20% — a full eight points behind Nigel Farage's party.
The dramatic increase in Labour support coincides with Keir Starmer being replaced as party leader and prime minister by Andy Burnham. Meanwhile, Reform's momentum has stalled as Farage has struggled to address questions regarding a £5 million gift he received from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Latest Voting Intention (DeltaPoll)
| Party | Percentage | Change | |-------|-----------|--------| | Conservative | 18% | +1 | | Labour | 28% | +8 | | Liberal Democrat | 10% | -2 | | Reform UK | 28% | - | | SNP | 3% | - | | Plaid Cymru | 1% | - | | Green | 10% | -3 | | Other | 2% | -2 |
Fieldwork: 17–20 July 2026 (Comparison: 12–15 June) Sample: 2,027 GB adults
Burnham's First Cabinet Meeting
The boost in support was revealed as Burnham chaired his first cabinet meeting as prime minister, telling ministers he wanted to lead a "cost of living government."
This followed his announcement of plans to cut VAT from electricity bills from 1 October — a move expected to save households approximately £45 per year.
Other measures include:
- A cap on bus fares across England at £2
- A 20% cut to business rates for the hospitality sector, as revealed by HuffPost UK
Burnham told cabinet that the government must give people "a sense that help is coming."
"What can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people's shoulders, just to give them that little extra sense that help is coming so that they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better," he said.
He said the cabinet should examine what measures — "big and small" — their departments could implement to help.
"We need to be a cost-of-living government, getting that cost of living down, looking at all possible ways of doing that," the PM added.
YouGov Poll Shows Narrowing Race
A separate YouGov poll showed Reform's lead has been cut to just two points over the Conservatives, with Labour one point behind.
Support for Reform dropped by one point in the past week to 23%, while the Conservatives rose two points to 21% and Labour gained one point to 21%.
Farage Calls for General Election
Despite his party's stalling support, Farage today called on Burnham to call a general election.
"This man has no mandate whatsoever. He didn't stand on the 2024 general election manifesto," Farage said.
"You cannot make the 'biggest changes' in British politics in 40 years without a mandate from the British people.
"And it would be only decent, right and proper to call a general election on that issue and to do it now."
Source
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Western
Part of this Story
Labour Wipes Out Reform UK Poll Lead as Party Enjoys 'Burnham Bounce'