GB News, on UK Politics, 25 October 2026

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Labour surges to eight-point lead in bombshell poll as John Healey

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Labour surges to eight-point lead in bombshell poll as John Healey prepares to unveil new tax raids The damning figures from Ipsos suggest a return to two-party politics, with the Conservatives and Labour both benefitting from boosts Sign up to the Politics Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Labour has surged another five points in the latest bombshell voting intention polls, mounting an eight-point lead ahead of John Healey's inaugural Budget next week. suggest a return to two-party politics, with the Conservatives and Labour both benefiting from boosts, while Reform UK and the Green Party continue their polling slumps.

Data show Labour has extended its lead, sitting on 32 per cent, while the Tories have cemented their position in second on 24 per cent, up three points. Reform sit third on 20 per cent, while the Lib Dems (nine per cent) have overtaken the Greens in fourth with just eight per cent, following a five-point drop. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Keiran Pedley, Director of Politics at Ipsos UK, said: "Whilst the headline figures do show a striking change, they confirm a pattern we have been seeing in the underlying data for some time.

"The Labour Party under Andy Burnham is resurgent, consolidating voters on the left behind them. "On the right, the tectonic plates have been shifting recently and now this is reflected in the Conservatives – not Reform UK – being in a clear second place." Labour have surged a further five points in the latest bombshell voting intention polls, mounting an eight-point lead ahead of John Healey's inaugural Budget next week | REUTERS Since September 2026, Kemi Badenoch has enjoyed the largest popularity swing, with 35 per cent now satisfied with the way she is leading the party - drawing her level with Andy Burnham.

Zack Polanski is facing the highest levels of dissatisfaction since he became leader in September 2025. Some 56 per cent are now displeased with his oversight, up six points. The Greens' leader from the "Zionism is racism" motion, which was ultimately passed. It defines Zionism as an "ethnonationalist political project" and states opposition to Zionism, the belief in Jewish self-determination and statehood, should not be equated with antisemitism.

Mr Polanski has since told the BBC he wants to amend the motion "at the first available opportunity" - in 2028. LATEST POLITICS NEWS Mayors given new powers to harness 'untapped and waste' potential of England's cities Wes Streeting warns Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days as Russia fears erupt Nigel Farage accuses Andy Burnham of 'Brexit betrayal' over plot to reimpose free movement with EU Since September 2026, Kemi Badenoch has enjoyed the largest popularity swing, with 35 per cent now satisfied with the way she is leading the party | GETTY Nigel Farage has suffered a similar decline in popularity, with 64 per cent now dissatisfied with his tenure.

Two recent stings from ITV and Channel 4, which brought forward damaging allegations about the party, may have impacted his popularity. Reform has denied any wrongdoing and reported ITV and its undercover journalists to the police , with the party's spokesman for home affairs, Zia Yusuf, : "Some of the crimes carry up to 10 years in prison. They forged a passport. They directly interfered in elections and almost certainly altered the results, being paid to 'canvass' for Reform in crucial wards we lost by a few dozen votes."

Mr Pedley warned to be "mindful against overreacting to one poll," describing British politics as "volatile" and noting Mr Healey's upcoming Budget on Wednesday. "The picture today is very different to six months ago and it could be different again in six months' time too," he added. Some 64 per cent are now dissatisfied with Nigel Farage's leadership at Reform | REUTERS Mr Healey, the former Defence Secretary who quit his role earlier this year after a lack of funding in his department, looks set to announce billions in defence spending next week.

He will also invest in the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank, two separate Government funds. The investment would be generated by long-term borrowing, opening the door to criticism from political opponents. The Conservatives, for example, vowed to increase defence spending by cutting . Other measures Mr Healey could introduce include new pension levies and a hike in the capital gains tax. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Politics Mayors given new powers to harness 'untapped and waste' potential of England's cities Politics Wes Streeting warns Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days as Russia fears erupt Politics John Healey 'unveiling billions in defence spending at Budget' — but funding questions raised Politics Nigel Farage accuses Andy Burnham of 'Brexit betrayal' over plot to reimpose free movement with EU Politics John Healey hit with devastating resignation days before Budget as advisor warns of 'Liz Truss-style crisis' Politics Labour gives taxman new powers to raid bank accounts in bid to recover £4billion Politics Tents handed to early release prisoners despite Andy Burnham’s vow to end rough sleeping Politics Scottish Greens leader says 'political wing' of Hamas should NOT be proscribed as terror group Politics Andy Burnham admits politicians have 'a lot to offer' stars of The Traitors in Celebrity Gogglebox appearance Politics Andy Burnham warns Donald Trump on 'coercive' behaviour by Argentina in Falkland Islands Politics Andy Burnham hints at Shabana Mahmood migration U-turn as Cabinet revolt rocks Labour Politics Chagossians could get legal veto over 'surrender deal' with Mauritius after peers vote for draft bill Politics Andy Burnham refuses to back down on Net Zero after green light for North Sea drilling Politics Andy Burnham slaps down Angela Rayner over 'mascara and wine' survival kit as PM defends stockpiling Politics Andy Burnham hits back at Lindsay Hoyle after Speaker's surprise PMQs intervention Politics Tories push for 'national resilience' vote to ban solar panels from prime agricultural land Politics Nigel Farage has a 'woman problem', says Tory frontbencher Victoria Atkins: 'Women can see and smell sexism' Politics Wes Streeting says there is 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin is a 'cold-blooded killer' in veiled swipe at Steve Witkoff Politics Wes Streeting calls on Britons to prepare for food shortages as Labour rolls out emergency initiative for UK Politics Iceland chief blasts Labour as ‘benefits party’ amid decision to rule out ‘crude cuts’ to welfare bill Politics Labour finally reveals full cost of asylum seeker 'how not to rape' guide after ignoring GB News Politics Burka ban debate sparks fury in Welsh Parliament as Reform compared to Nazis for 'anti-British' claim Exclusive Politics Kemi Badenoch demands John Healey’s resignation if his Budget fails to deliver defence spending promise Politics 'He is not a serious Prime Minister!'

Andy Burnham slammed after Celebrity Gogglebox announcement Politics UK Government websites taken offline amid cyber security threat Politics Labour likely to REJECT drilling at Rosebank oilfield after approval of Jackdaw despite Donald Trump urging to go 'full blast' Politics Keir Starmer listed as 'core participant' in grooming gangs inquiry Politics Kemi Badenoch declares she 'isn't scared to back police officers' but issues trust warning after Henry Nowak case Politics London Green councillors encourage people 'inspired by the protests in France' to join demonstration Politics 'When will they wake up?'

EU economy plummets as gap between Brussels and the US reaches £1.27TRILLION

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What we found (3)

GB News reports an Ipsos poll giving Labour an eight-point lead, but its headline says John Healey is preparing to unveil new tax raids when the body only says he could introduce pension levies and a capital gains tax rise. The outlet also uses verdict words such as "damning", "controversially" and "ballooning" in its own voice, and introduces Reform's criminal allegations against ITV journalists as something its spokesman was "confirming".

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Serious

    “prepares to unveil new tax raids”

    Why this matters
    The headline states as settled that Healey "prepares to unveil new tax raids".
    The impression it gives
    That the Budget is confirmed to contain new tax raids and that this is the outlet's established reporting.
    The context
    The body only says certain measures "could" be introduced: new pension levies and a capital gains tax rise. What the body says Healey "looks set" to announce is defence spending and investment funded by borrowing, not tax raids.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Other measures Mr Healey could introduce include new pension levies”
    • Elsewhere in the article“looks set to announce billions in defence spending next week”
    • Elsewhere in the article“The investment would be generated by long-term borrowing”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Labour takes eight-point lead in Ipsos poll ahead of John Healey's first Budget, which could include pension levies and a capital gains tax rise.

  2. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “The damning figures from Ipsos”

    Why this matters
    The outlet calls the poll figures "damning" in its own voice.
    The impression it gives
    That the poll is an indictment of someone, without being told of whom.
    The context
    The figures the article reports show Labour and the Conservatives both rising. "Damning" is a verdict the numbers themselves do not carry.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Labour has extended its lead, sitting on 32 per cent”

    Show it in the article

    “controversially abstained”

    Why this matters
    The word "controversially" passes a verdict on Polanski's abstention in the outlet's own voice.
    The impression it gives
    That his abstention was widely condemned.
    The context
    The article names no one who criticised the abstention. It reports only that the motion passed.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    “the ballooning benefits bill”

    Why this matters
    The outlet calls the benefits bill "ballooning" in its own voice while reporting a Conservative policy.
    The impression it gives
    That runaway benefit spending is an established fact rather than a party's framing.
    The context
    The article gives no figure or trend for benefit spending to support the word.

    Show it in the article

  3. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “confirming”

    Why this matters
    The outlet introduces Zia Yusuf's allegations that ITV journalists committed crimes with the verb "confirming".
    The impression it gives
    That the forgery and election interference claims are established facts which Reform has merely confirmed.
    The context
    These are one party's allegations against journalists whose investigation had made damaging claims about that party. Nothing in the article establishes them.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“brought forward damaging allegations about the party”

    Show it in the article

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