UK political polling and Reform UK developments

Polling data indicates a shifting political landscape for Reform UK in the United Kingdom. In late August 2026, a Savanta poll regarding the 2028 London mayoral race showed the Labour Party leading with 33 per cent, while Reform UK overtook the Conservatives to take second place with 20 per cent.

Subsequent national voting intention polls showed the Labour Party maintaining a 4-point lead over Reform UK, with the Conservative Party trailing Reform by one point. Amidst these fluctuating polling numbers, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger proposed structural changes to the UK civil service. The proposal seeks to centralize power within the Prime Minister’s office by replacing the Cabinet Office and removing legal protections to allow ministers to appoint and dismiss senior civil servants.

In September 2026, Reform UK began utilizing its control of Havering Council to demonstrate its capacity for governance. Following the May local elections, in which the party secured 39 of the 55 seats, Havering became the first Reform UK-run local authority in London. Alex Wilson, the party’s leader on the London Assembly, stated the borough serves as a flagship to show Londoners that the party can provide a “solid, competent and stable” administration. Council leader Keith Prince noted that initial priorities include stabilizing finances and addressing works at Gallows Corner. Despite a 13 per cent vote share in May being described by pollsters as an undershoot of expectations, leadership intends to use this local power as a beacon for the party’s capabilities both in London and nationally.