Nigel Farages Approval Ratings Drop Over Financial Controversy

Nigel Farage’s personal approval ratings have plummeted amid the ongoing row over his personal finances.

Reform UK’s opinion poll lead has also narrowed, according to research by pollsters Opinium.

Farage has rarely been out of the headlines in recent days after he dramatically announced he was resigning as MP for Clacton to trigger a “people versus the establishment” by-election.

He said he was the victim of a witch-hunt as parliament’s standards commissioner probes his failure to declare a £5 million gift he received from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before the 2024 election.

Questions have also been raised over financial support Farage received from convicted fraudster George Cottrell before becoming an MP.

Opinium’s latest poll, published on Saturday night, found that support for Reform has falled by two points to 24% in the past week.

Labour are five points behind on 19%, with the Tories on 18% and the Greens on 16%.

Farage’s personal approval ratings, meanwhile, have fallen sharply to minus 27, which Opinium said was “comfortably his lowest ratings of this parliament”.

By contrast, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s ratings have improved to minus 3, with Lib Dem boss Ed Davey on minus 5 and PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham on minus 8.

Opinium’s James Crouch said: “For the first time this parliament, Nigel Farage looks politically vulnerable.

“Reform’s vote share has fallen into the low 20s, his personal ratings have hit a new low, and the standards row appears to be taking a real toll. The question now is whether Labour or the Conservatives can capitalise.”

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