Reform UK’s support base is widening and moving closer to the centre, a More in Common study published ahead of the party’s annual conference shows. Luke Tryl, the organisation’s director, said the survey highlights how hard it is to pigeonhole Reform voters as its backing grows and their views align with the wider public on many social issues, immigration aside. He added that balancing the demands of highly engaged online supporters with more cautious newer converts will present a challenge for the party.

About 40% of current Reform supporters backed the party in 2024, with some people switching from Labour or the Conservatives, or not voting. The poll found Reform supporters place the strongest emphasis on immigration, with 86% favouring a reduction in net migration, compared with 58% of the general public. By contrast, supporters were broadly aligned with public opinion on abortion, same-sex marriage and gender equality. Among newer supporters, fewer oppose net zero (39% vs 52% among 2024 voters). The gender gap narrowed from about 1.4 men for every woman voting Reform in 2024 to around 1.2 now, and the party’s support is spread more evenly across age groups, with more than 20% in every age category. New supporters also spend less time online than the 2024 base.

Reform UK will begin a two-day conference on Friday, with speeches from four MPs and former chairman Zia Yusuf. Fringe sessions will focus on running Reform-controlled councils and a path to Downing Street in 2029. Yusuf will chair a session on crypto finance, while MP Lee Anderson is due to take part in a discussion on the challenges facing young men. Two former Conservative ministers, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg, are also set to attend. Labour responded by publishing a website describing Reform’s manifesto as a ‘don’t know’ plan for Britain. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: ‘Nigel Farage is a disgrace. All anger, no solutions. You can’t run a country with don’t know answers. It’s time Reform came clean and gave the British public the answers they deserve.’