Nigel Farage's Right-Wing Populist Party Overtakes Conservatives In More Bad News For UK Prime Minister

Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist Reform UK party has overtaken the governing Conservative Party in the run-up to the July 4 general election, according to a new poll released on Thursday in more bad news for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The YouGov survey conducted from June 12 to 13 on a sample of 2,211 adults projects that the Labour Party will win 37% of the vote, followed by Reform UK at 19%, which is one point ahead of the Conservatives.

Farage, an ally of former President Donald Trump, had previously said he didn’t intend to run in next month’s election so he could focus on the U.S. presidential race. But he changed his mind in early June.

This marks the first poll in which Farage’s party has finished ahead of the Tories, who have been in power for 14 years. The polling company, however, noted that the result is within the margin of error.

“Given these considerations, it may be more fair to say at this point in time — given the results of the last few polls — that Reform UK are neck and neck with the Conservatives,” YouGov said.

The Conservatives have struggled in the election campaign after Sunak made several blunders, including the highly controversial decision to leave D-Day celebrations in Normandy early to return to the U.K. to sit down for an ITV interview. Sunak, who, according to YouGov has a net approval rating of -51, apologized for the mistake.

Sunak said Friday that he will continue fighting to earn the support of the British public for the remainder of the campaign. He warned that if the poll results hold on Election Day, it would be the equivalent of handing the Labour Party a “blank check.”

“Ultimately a vote for anyone who is not a Conservative candidate makes it more likely that [Labour Party