Lee Anderson hails 'staggering' new polling development for Reform UK

By Katie Harris, Political Reporter

Lee Anderson defected to Reform UK earlier this month (Image: GETTY)

Reform UK is now ahead of the Conservatives among male voters, new polling suggests.

The survey by YouGov found 19% of men back the insurgent party, compared to 17% for the Tories.

The poll also showed Richard Tice's party is ahead of the Conservatives in the Red Wall by 18% to 17%.

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson, who defected from the Tories earlier this month, said the findings were "staggering".

He added: "If you want your country back then the good news is it's within our reach."

The poll puts Rishi Sunak's party just two points ahead of Reform in England with 19% and 17% respectively.

Across Great Britain as a whole, the Tories are on 19% and the rebranded Brexit Party is on 15%.

Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party has a 25-point lead with 44% in the survey of 2,037 British adults carried out from March 19 to 20.

Anthony Wells of YouGov told The Sunday Times: “The Tories have dipped under 20%.

"Their performance is deteriorating and Reform’s is getting better. Inevitably, some groups are showing a Reform lead.”

It comes amid intense speculation over whether Nigel Farage will make a return to frontline politics.

Pollsters have suggested a comeback by Mr Farage would provide a boost to Reform UK.

Mr Anderson became the party's first MP when he defected earlier this month after loisng the Tory whip in an Islamophobia row.