Labour has slipped into third place behind Reform and the Tories amid the tax frenzy and Rachel Reeves’ ‘illegal letting’ row, a poll suggested today.
More in Common research found Nigel Farage’s insurgents way out in front on 31 per cent – although that was down two points over the past week.
Labour saw a three-point drop in support to just 18 per cent, with the Conservatives leapfrogging Keir Starmer’s party by creeping up to 19 per cent.
The numbers are another blow to Keir Starmer as he struggles to get the government back on track after a miserable first 16 months in power.
The PM and Chancellor have been giving heavy hints that more big tax increases are coming in the Budget on November 26.
And there is speculation over a revolt by jittery MPs if the local elections in May turn out to be as disastrous as many predict.
The More in Common survey, carried out between October 31 and November 3, is even gloomier for Sir Keir than a separate YouGov poll released yesterday.
That showed Reform seven points ahead – but Labour up three points on 20 per cent support.
The Tories were level with the Greens on 16 per cent according to that poll.
With Reform seemingly in pole position for the election – albeit over three years away – Mr Farage has been trying to burnish his credentials as a serious option to become PM.
Earlier this week he warned there can be no major tax cuts until spending is curbed – effectively jettisoning Reform’s election manifesto from last year.
Ms Reeves broke with convention yesterday by teeing up her Budget in an early-morning Downing Street speech.
She made clear she is considering taking the country back to the 1970s by imposing the first increase in the basic rate of income tax since her Labour predecessor Denis Healey.
Ms Reeves insisted ‘we will all have to contribute’ to closing the gap, reeling off a laundry list of factors to blame – including Brexit, the Tories, Covid, the Ukraine war and President Trump’s tariffs.
Such a move would be a blatant breach of Labour’s manifesto pledge to not raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT – and triggered Tory calls for her to be sacked.
But Ms Reeves said she was ‘not going to walk away because the situation is difficult’.
