Reform overtake Conservatives in British opinion poll

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Stephen Flynn of the SNP taking part in the ITV debate (Jonathan Hordle/ITV/PA)

In Britain, Reform UK has overtaken the Conservatives in a major opinion poll, as prime minister Rishi Sunak continues his absence from the election campaign trail to meet world leaders in Italy.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the Times newspaper had Nigel Farage’s party at 19% to the Conservatives 18% in voting intention, in a crossover moment which is the latest blow to Tory hopes of returning to government.