Poll shows Kemi Badenoch's approval rating rising as she closes in on Andy Burnham

Published: 11:15 EDT, 4 November 2026 | Updated: 11:19 EDT, 4 November 2026 Kemi Badenoch's personal approval rating is closing in on Andy Burnham's amid signs of a Tory revival, a new poll shows today.More in Common research found the Opposition leader's approval has risen further into positive territory, at plus eight.That was only slightly behind the PM on plus 10, after his own bounce subsided somewhat over recent weeks.Overall Labour retained a six-point lead on 29 per cent, with the Tories marginally ahead of Reform on 23 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. The data will encourage party strategists who believe that the leader's well-received performances and bold pledges on cutting tax and welfare are starting to overhaul their fortunes. More in Common research found the Opposition leader's approval has risen further into positive territory, at plus eight The data will encourage party strategists who believe that the leader's well-received performances and bold pledges on cutting tax and welfare are starting to overhaul their fortunes Mrs Badenoch has been warning her party to get ready for a general election A YouGov poll earlier this week put the Conservatives on 24 per cent support – up two points in a week.Labour was on 26 per cent, with no sign that the Budget delivered any bounce. Reform was lagging behind on 21 per cent.Westminster has been in the grip of fevered snap election speculation, despite the PM flatly denying that there will be a ballot next year. The rumours have been given extra impetus by John Healey pushing back key decisions in the Budget last week. A spending review due in the second half of next year will need to spell out a path for defence budgets hitting 3 per cent of GDP by 2030. The Chancellor has also acknowledged there will have to be difficult choices on departmental spending, with think-tanks flagging that current plans seem to entail huge real-terms cuts in the coming years.Asked in an interview last week when the next election will be, Mr Burnham said: 'I said yesterday, no election in 2027. I said that really, really plainly yesterday.'I'll say it again today to you and the reason I say that is because I am not coming into this job full of political calculation in terms of "what do I need to do for how it benefits me or the party?"'I come into the job genuinely feeling that the country needs a really clear change in terms of the way politics has been done because we're in a messy position.'However, the remarks did appear to be a shift in Mr Burnham's position, as he previously stated that there would not be an election until 2029.