Most Reform UK voters would back wealth tax on very rich, poll suggests

1 hour ago7 min read

The political landscape just got more complicated for Nigel Farage, as explosive new polling from the Best for Britain thinktank reveals a stunning disconnect between the Reform UK leader and the very voters he hopes to mobilize. According to their exclusive data, a commanding majority of potential Reform supporters are openly defying traditional right-wing economic orthodoxy by throwing their weight behind a one-off wealth tax targeting the ultra-rich—a policy position that places them squarely at odds with Farage's own platform.This isn't just a minor policy rift; it's a fundamental schism that strikes at the heart of his campaign's narrative. The numbers are even more damning when you look at the broader picture: approximately three-quarters of these voters also support implementing windfall taxes on the colossal profits of energy giants and major banks, signaling a deep-seated populist economic sentiment that Farage has thus far failed to capitalize on or even acknowledge.This polling, strategically compiled ahead of next week's critical budget announcement, functions as a direct challenge to Farage's political instincts. It suggests that his base is not merely a monolith of anti-immigration sentiment or Brexit nostalgia, but is instead driven by a potent, and often overlooked, economic grievance against perceived corporate greed and extreme wealth concentration.For a party positioning itself as the true voice of the 'left-behind,' these findings expose a potentially catastrophic strategic miscalculation. Farage's team has long operated on the assumption that their voters prioritize cultural wars over economic redistribution, but this data turns that playbook on its head.It reveals an electorate that is, in many ways, more economically radical than the Labour base on certain issues, creating a complex puzzle for campaign strategists. The immediate consequence is a severe weakening of Farage's bargaining power in any potential post-election negotiations.How can he credibly claim to represent his supporters' interests if his flagship economic policies are fundamentally misaligned with their desires? This internal contradiction could be exploited by both the Conservatives, to peel away disaffected voters with promises of fiscal fairness, and by Labour, to frame Reform as a party of hollow rhetoric. Historically, we've seen similar movements fracture under the weight of such internal conflicts—the UKIP of the mid-2010s struggled to reconcile its libertarian and social conservative wings, ultimately limiting its growth.Now, Reform UK faces a parallel dilemma. Does Farage pivot to embrace this latent economic populism, risking the alienation of his small-state, low-tax donors and ideological purists? Or does he double down on his current course, effectively telling a significant portion of his base that they are wrong on one of their core concerns? The upcoming budget will be the first major test.If the government introduces any measures that even faintly resemble a wealth tax or further windfall levies, the pressure on Farage to respond will be immense. His reaction will tell us everything about whether he sees this data as a warning siren or merely as background noise. In the high-stakes theater of British politics, being 'out of step with your base' is a luxury no aspiring kingmaker can afford.

#lead focus news

#Reform UK

#Nigel Farage

#wealth tax

#poll

#voters

#budget

#taxation

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