Overview
- A JL Partners survey of 1,002 trade union members, with fieldwork from May 14–19, found Reform UK and Labour tied on 28% support among union members.
- The poll showed Reform leading within two large unions, with Unite members preferring Reform 36% to Labour’s 30% and GMB members backing Reform 31% to Labour’s 22%.
- The survey follows Reform’s strong performance in May’s local elections, when the party won roughly 1,400–1,450 council seats including gains in long-standing Labour areas.
- Senior union figures reacted angrily, noting that Unite has already cut Labour affiliation payments by about 40% and that unions have held exploratory talks with Reform representatives, while Unite’s Sharon Graham said workers had abandoned Labour.
- Independent research and analysis by Sir John Curtice point to socially conservative, ideologically driven support for Reform, suggesting the shift may be durable and could change electoral calculations for Labour and other parties.