Nigel Farage takes swipe at Tories ahead of Kemi Badenoch’s speech: ‘Still at 17%!’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has taken a polling swipe at the Tories ahead of Kemi Badenoch’s conference speech.

Mr Farage, who is back on the campaign trail amid fears of a snap election, mocked the Conservatives after a poll found support for the party stood at 17%.

In a social media post, the Reform UK leader said: “A year ago, the Conservatives were polling at 17 per cent. Today? Still 17 per cent.

“After 14 years in power, voters haven't forgotten the damage they did to our country. And they won't.

“The next election is a clear fight between Labour and Reform.”

The comment, which was based on a new poll conducted by Opinium, puts Reform UK’s support at 25 per cent.

However, Labour is now storming ahead of its rivals on 30 per cent, increasing the likelihood of a majority win for Andy Burnham.

Despite Mr Farage’s swipe, other pollsters have recently put the Tories neck-and-neck or even ahead of Reform UK.

The post also came just hours after Reform UK released an attack advert against Mrs Badenoch.

The video claimed Mrs Badenoch had lied about being a national chess champion in Nigeria, receiving an offer to study at Stanford University and working at the University of Bradford.

After the video was released, a community note was attached to clarify: “Kemi Badenoch did not claim to be Nigeria's national chess champion.

“In the February 2024 Times interview transcript she said she won ‘a national competition for chess’ at age 7 in Nigeria but immediately clarified ‘there were only two girls who entered’.”

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…