Voting intention: 29th April 2026
See the full data tables here.
With a week to go before the local elections, Reform UK continues to lead the voting intention in the latest Opinium poll, maintaining an advantage over the traditional main parties. Labour and the Conservatives are locked in a close contest for second place, while the Greens and Liberal Democrats hold steady on mid-teen and low-teen support respectively.
Alongside the voting figures, the data paints a challenging picture for political leadership. Public dissatisfaction with party leaders remains widespread, and in many cases voters appear unconvinced by the alternatives on offer.
Reform leads as leader ratings remain subdued
Reform UK leads the poll on 27% (–1), followed by Labour on 19% (no change) and the Conservatives on 18% (+1). The Green Party sits on 15% (no change), while the Liberal Democrats are on 12% (no change).
Leader ratings remain negative across the board. Keir Starmer continues to have the lowest net approval at –44, unchanged from last week. Nigel Farage follows at –17 (+1), with Zack Polanski on –12 (–3). Kemi Badenoch is closer to parity at –4 (+2), while Ed Davey has the least negative rating at –2 (+3).
When asked about preferred prime ministerial choices, voters remain largely unconvinced. Between Starmer and Badenoch, 43% say neither would be best, with Badenoch (24%) narrowly ahead of Starmer (22%). A similar pattern emerges when Starmer is compared with Farage, where 37% opt for neither, with Farage (28%) slightly ahead of Starmer (27%).
Overall, the leadership picture is characterised by low approval and limited enthusiasm for any single figure, but the leader making the greatest headway in recent weeks being the Conservative leader.
Local issues shape the electoral battleground
Voters say the most important local issues are closely tied to day-to-day services and living standards. Local NHS services top the list (39%), followed by road maintenance and potholes (37%), crime and anti-social behaviour (30%), and council tax rates (29%).
Priorities vary by party support. Liberal Democrat voters are particularly focused on NHS services and road maintenance, while Reform UK voters are more likely to cite crime and the local impact of immigration. Conservative voters place greater emphasis on council tax and road maintenance, whereas Labour and Green voters are more likely to prioritise healthcare and housing.
Farage seen as different, Starmer as typical
Perceptions of how leaders compare to “typical politicians” reveal a stark divide. Half of respondents (50%) see Farage as different from most politicians, the highest of any leader, while just 21% think he is similar.
By contrast, Starmer is most associated with the political mainstream: 44% say he is similar to other politicians, compared to just 18% who see him as different. Badenoch follows a similar pattern, with 37% viewing her as similar and 20% as different.
Polanski stands out as the second most distinctive figure, with around a third (35%) saying he is different from most politicians. Davey, meanwhile, is more likely to be seen as similar (29%) than different (19%).
These findings suggest that perceptions of authenticity and difference continue to shape how leaders are viewed.
Public scepticism over Angela Rayner’s return
On the question of whether Angela Rayner should return to the Cabinet, public opinion leans clearly against the move. Half (50%) say the Prime Minister should not bring her back, compared with 24% who support her return. A further 26% are unsure.
Among 2024 Labour voters, opinion is more divided. Around two in five (41%) support her return, while 36% oppose it, indicating some ambivalence even within the party’s base.
Vetting controversy continues to weigh on Labour
Public reaction to the ongoing vetting controversy remains challenging for the government. Starmer’s handling of the issue is rated negatively, with a net approval of –39, unchanged from the previous week.
In contrast, Badenoch records the most positive response on this issue, with a net approval of +11, followed by Davey (+4) and Farage (+2).
The parliamentary dimension of the controversy also draws scrutiny. A majority (58%) believe the Speaker was right to allow a vote on referring the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee, while only 15% disagree.
However, views are more mixed on the motivations behind the vote: 32% see it as legitimate, compared with 24% who think it was politically motivated, with a large proportion undecided.
The political impact is clearer. Over half (55%) say Labour MPs being whipped to vote against referral reflects badly on the Prime Minister, while just 6% think it reflects well. Similarly, 49% say the outcome of the vote reflects badly on the Labour Party overall, compared with 10% who view it positively.
King Charles’ US visit viewed positively
King Charles III’s recent visit to the United States is widely seen as beneficial. Half of respondents (50%) believe it had a positive impact on UK–US relations, while only 6% think it had a negative effect.
Among those aware of the visit, perceptions are particularly favourable: three in five (59%) say the King did a good job, compared with just 6% who think he performed badly.
This suggests that, in contrast to domestic politics, the monarchy continues to attract relatively positive public sentiment in an international context.