Keir Starmer's attack on Nigel Farage dealt major blow as voters know what Reform stands for better than Labour, poll shows

Labour MP Steve Reed, who yesterday succeeded ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as Housing Secretary, doubled down by arguing that Mr Farage is a "disgrace" for offering "anger" and "no solutions."

However, a poll by Merlin Strategy appeared to hand Mr Farage a major post-conference boost after it found that 68 per cent of Britons say they clearly understand what Reform UK stands for.

The proportion of voters who believe they can pinpoint where either the Tories or Labour stand collapses by more than 10 per cent - down to 59 per cent and 56 per cent respectively.

It is a similar story when voters are asked whether they clearly understand Reform UK's policies.

Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of voters believe they clearly understand Reform UK's policies, up by double-digits compared to 56 per cent for the Tories and 55 per cent for Labour.

Responding to the findings, Merlin Strategy founder Scarlett Maguire told GB News: "Having now led in almost 100 consecutive polls, it is right that Reform UK are coming under increased scrutiny about their policies and their direction of travel.

"Interestingly though, the public thinks that at the moment they actually understand Reform's policies better than the Conservatives or Labour, showing once again the dissatisfaction with Westminster's traditional two main parties."

Ms Maguire also pointed out that voters associate Reform UK with immigration and the British people, two issues which have become far more salient in recent years.

The polling will also come as a blow to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch after it found that the Tory Party is associated with "the rich" and "traditional values".

Ms Maguire said: "The Conservatives are associated with the 'rich', which will not help them recover their standing in the polls, as it shows 14 months on from their crushing electoral defeat, they are still thought to be out of touch by voters."

Meanwhile, voters identified Sir Keir Starmer's Labour as being closely connected to "social justice" and "equality".

Despite both "social justice" and "equality" being key issues among Labour's core base, Mr Farage appears to have opened up a lead over his rivals on issues of high importance to a wider chunk of the electorate.

Ms Maguire explained: "This speaks to people's traditional conceptions of what the Labour Party is and who it stands for, but is less likely to move voters than bread and butter issues such as being seen to be good on the economy or immigration."

The perception might also reflect Labour's slump in support in the opinion polls.

Sir Keir's drop in support is particularly pronounced among those now open to voting for Reform UK, including in Brexit-backing parts of the so-called Red Wall.

However, Labour is also facing an increasingly quarrelsome challenge to the left.

Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party and Zack Polanski's Greens have vowed to snatch votes away from Labour by heavily targeting its metropolitan and liberal-leaning base.

Meanwhile, Merlin Strategy found that voters believe Mr Farage is currying favour with voters on issues stretching from immigration to crime and the cost of living to transport.

However, the Reform UK leader is also considered a liability when it comes to matters such as social cohesion and the environment.

During Mr Farage's keynote speech at Reform UK's annual conference at the NEC, the Clacton MP continued to play on the key issues he has become so closely associated with.

Speaking about the small boats crisis, Mr Farage said: “We will stop what is a threat to our national security, what is a danger to girls and women on our streets.

“We will stop the boats and we will detain and deport those who illegally break into our country, doing what nearly every normal country around the rest of the world does.

"You cannot come here illegally and stay: we will stop the boats within two weeks of winning government.”

On British people, Mr Farage defended the Union Jack and flag of St George after

He said: "What is going on out there is the British people are sticking two fingers up with every flag they place to an establishment that doesn't believe in Britain, to an establishment that thinks more of the interests of other countries and foreign courts that it thinks about its own people, and those flags say we have had enough."

However, Mr Farage was forced to water down his commitment to ending the Channel crossing crisis within two weeks of winning the 2029 General Election.

When pushed on the timeline for his migration plan, the Clacton MP told the People's Channel: "Within two weeks of legislation being passed, we will stop the boats."

But Sir Keir is considered far more indecisive in the minds of the electorate than Mr Farage.

The Prime Minister was only saved from a humiliating Commons revolt by backing down on his £5billion welfare cuts proposal.

He was also accused of U-turning on what the definition of a woman is, cutting Winter Fuel Payments and holding a national rape gangs inquiry.