Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%.

The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%.

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All the polling moves that push Reform UK to the top for the first time this week are within the margin of error and the overall picture remains unchanged – with Britain in a new period of three party politics in the polls.

However, the symbolism of Reform UK topping the poll is likely to be seized on by MPs from all parties.

One in five Tory voters at the last election would now vote for Reform.

The Tories are likely to be the hardest hit by the poll, having been in third place since YouGov restarted polling after the general election.

The Sky News/YouGov poll also found Kemi Badenoch has slipped behind Nigel Farage when voters are asked whether they have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the leaders.

Last month, Badenoch has a net favourability rating of -25, but that has now dropped to -29 this month.

This puts her below Farage, who had a net favourability rating of -32 last month, which has now risen to -27 this month.

Keir Starmer is less popular than both Farage and Badenoch, with his net favourability rating now at -36.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey is much more popular, with his net favourability rating now at -9 – although this is not directly translated across into voting intention.

These figures are likely to restart the debate in the Tory party about whether they should consider merging with Reform UK, something which Badenoch has repeatedly rejected.

A total of 43% of those polled who voted Tory in the last general election support a merger, compared with 31% against.

Reform UK voters are more likely to oppose, with 40% against and 31% for.

Millions of people face council tax hikes over normal thresholds after the government allowed six areas to boost rates above the usual 5%.

More than two million people will be hit by increases of between 5 and 10%.

Windsor and Maidenhead Council wanted to increase council tax by 25% but the plan was blocked – instead it will go up by 9%.

Newham Council will go up by the same amount, while Bradford Council will put up taxes by 10% and Birmingham, Somerset and Trafford councils will all put up rates by 7.5%.

Politics latest: Labour polling slumps behind Reform

Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, health and social care minister Karin Smyth defended the above normal increases – saying “many more councils” asked for permission to hike taxes, but were refused.

She said the ones given the nod “are particularly desperate” and need the money to keep “basic services running”.

The Labour MP was quick to blame the Conservatives, saying local government was left in a “really, really dark state” by the previous government.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – who is also the secretary of state for local government – confirmed the move on Monday.

She said the average council tax increase across the country would not surpass last year’s total of 5.1%.

She also said more than £69bn in central funding would be made available to regional administrators, a rise of 6.8% compared to the 2024-25 period. Close to £4bn has also been put aside to help councils with social care.

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The Conservatives accused Labour of “pushing the burden on to taxpayers after they promised to freeze council tax”.

Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “Their Local Government Finance Settlement will mean that councils will have to raise council tax to accommodate Labour’s jobs tax.

“This means that local people will pay more for less when it comes to local services, especially in rural areas which are losing the Rural Services Delivery Grant that Labour have abolished.

“The Labour Party have made false promises to local people, promising to freeze council tax while many councils will now have to raise it due to Labour’s political choice to raise council tax.”

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The County Councils Network, which represents 37 administrations, said they are facing pressure from the government’s decisions to increase national insurance contributions for employers, and increases to minimum wage.

Barry Lewis, the network’s finance spokesperson said: “More than four in five CCN members say they are in a worse position than before the autumn budget and this finance settlement, and one-third say their service reductions next year will now be severe.

“Considering there is very little fat left to cut from many of these services already, a further reduction will have a material impact on our residents.”

Ms Rayner confirmed allocations worth £502m to assist councils with the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions.