Reform UK Gains Majority Support Among British Farmers as Conservative Backing Collapses

A seismic shift in rural political allegiances has seen Reform UK overtake the Conservative Party as the most popular political choice among British farmers, according to recent polling data from Farmers Weekly magazine. The survey reveals that 40 per cent of the nation’s agricultural community now supports Nigel Farage’s party, representing a substantial increase from the 15 per cent recorded during the 2024 general election.

The polling data exposes a dramatic erosion of Conservative support within a demographic that has historically formed a cornerstone of the party’s electoral coalition. Support for the Tories has plummeted to 28 per cent, down from 57 per cent at the time of the most recent general election. The decline represents a continuation of a longer-term trend; as recently as 2020, 71 per cent of farmers indicated they would vote Conservative.

The deterioration in Conservative fortunes reflects mounting frustration within the agricultural sector over policy decisions spanning multiple administrations. Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of post-Brexit agricultural arrangements, perceived inadequate support during the recent inflationary period, and Boris Johnson’s controversial commitment to rewild 640,000 acres of farmland. The National Farmers Union issued warnings in 2023 that Britain was “sleepwalking” into a food security crisis, highlighting the sector’s growing sense of abandonment by traditional political allies.

Reform UK has capitalised on this discontent by positioning itself as a defender of agricultural interests. The party has pledged support for smaller farming operations and committed to ensuring farmland remains in productive agricultural use rather than being converted to solar energy installations. Nigel Farage has specifically promised to abolish the inheritance tax on family farms, a policy position that resonates strongly with the sector’s concerns about generational succession and asset preservation.

Labour’s performance in the agricultural community has deteriorated to near insignificance, with support falling from an already modest 4 per cent at the last election to just 1 per cent. The party’s decision to impose inheritance tax on family farms has provoked particular anger within rural communities. The government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published on 22 December, has further damaged relations through proposed restrictions on trail hunting and intensive livestock farming, alongside limitations on nature-focused subsidies.

Welsh sheep farmer Gareth Wyn Jones articulated the sector’s disillusionment, noting that the farming community has been “let down by both parties” and views Reform as offering “a new opportunity for farmers to get some support”. Richard Negus, who specialises in hedge-laying and habitat restoration across East Anglia, suggested that Reform’s success stems from the party’s willingness to engage with agricultural concerns, though he cautioned that the party must demonstrate maturity beyond populist rhetoric.

Countryside organisations, including the NFU and the Country Land and Business Group, have reportedly engaged in active dialogue with Reform UK representatives regarding sectoral grievances. Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader and MP for Boston and Skegness, asserted that farmers “were let down by the Tories in so many ways and do not trust them”, positioning Reform as the sole trustworthy option for agricultural and rural constituencies.

The polling data carries significant implications for future electoral calculations. The rural vote has traditionally provided the Conservative Party with reliable support across constituencies outside major urban centres. The wholesale migration of this demographic towards Reform UK suggests a fundamental realignment in British political geography, with potentially material consequences for seat projections in future elections. The Conservative Party declined to comment on the polling findings.