BRITS have backed Nigel Farage as the most favourable leading politician pulling ahead of his frontline rivals, polling shows.

The Reform UK chief recorded a 31 per cent favourability rating giving him a big advantage of Sir Keir Starmer.

But some 46 per cent say they have an unfavourable opinion of Mr Farage – giving him a net score of minus 15 points.

But the public overall has a negative view of leading politicians and parties, the survey reveals.

The figures from the Ipsos show that Sir Keir Starmer holds a net favourability rating of minus 34 points.

Just over a fifth, some 21 per cent, give him a favourable record some seven months into his job as Prime Minister – but 55 per cent give the opposite view.

His net rating is down by five points compared to last month amid the fall out from national insurance hike and ending the universal winter fuel payments.

The polling shows that a significant majority, some 62 per cent, of Brits continue to believe the country is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.

When voters were asked to give the government a rating out of ten, they gave them 3.5 per cent which is down 0.2 per cent on January.

The survey was taken earlier this month before US President Donald Trump branded Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator”.

Farage dismissed this outright but did say it was “only right and proper” that Ukrainians have a timeline for going to the polls suggesting it could happen before the conflict concludes  – so they can have their say on any peace deal.

The polling also found that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has the lowest net approval rating of minus thirty nine points  – with just 14 per cent giving her a favourable rating.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who has been in post since November, has seen her overall rating up marginally –  but is given an ‘unfavourable’ rating  by 45 per cent of voters.

The Tories currently hold the lowest net favourability rating at minus 34 with Labour on minus 28.  Reform are on minus 14 which is better by four points on last month.

Keiran Pedley, Director of UK Politics at Ipsos said:  “This polling shows the relatively competitive position Nigel Farage holds versus other party leaders.

“More Britons are favourable towards Farage than Starmer, Badenoch or Davey.

“However, these poll findings were taken before Donald Trump’s recent comments about Ukraine, so it remains to be seen whether these – and Nigel Farage’s response – impact the numbers moving forward.”

The monthly Ipsos Political Pulse survey interviewed a representative sample of 2,248 adults.