Kemi Badenoch's refusal to do a deal with Nigel Farage is overwhelmingly backed by voters, an exclusive new poll has found.

The Tory leader's stance, which she set out in an article in last week's The Mail on Sunday, is supported by 78 per cent of voters, with just 22 per cent supporting the idea of a pact.

Among Tory voters her stance is backed by 60 per cent, while even 52 per cent of Reform supporters agree with her.

The conclusions, in a survey by polling agency Find Out Now, come as Mrs Badenoch is surging in confidence after adept Commons performances and victory in the Aberdeen South by-election.

But Reform's Mr Farage is licking his wounds from defeat at the hands of Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election and intense scrutiny over his £5million donation from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.

There is increasing expectation of a hung parliament at the next election: the poll puts Reform on 26 per cent, Labour on 19 and the Tories on 17. 

With Mr Burnham's arrival in Downing Street likely to lead to an electoral bounce, however short-lived, parties could soon be neck-and neck.

In addition, there is the 'Farage factor': the previously all-conquering Reform leader no longer looks indestructible, with his friends admitting that he 'needs a rest'.

If he decided that, at 62 and with up to three years to run until the election, he didn't have the stamina to continue, then the gap between Reform and the Tories would close. The poll shows that, in that case, the Tories would close the gap on Reform to five per cent.

Despite the public support for Mrs Badenoch's go-it-alone position, Labour sources' indication that Mr Burnham is prepared to strike a deal with the Liberal Democrats at the next election to form a coalition Government could mean the Left running Downing Street for the best part of a decade.

Mrs Badenoch is starting to vie with Mr Farage in personal ratings: she is deemed more effective at holding the Government to account, with 41 per cent against his 30 per cent, and better on the economy, with 17 per cent to his 14 per cent. 

Although Mr Farage is still well ahead on immigration, by a margin of three to one, the 'best PM' rankings have Mr Burnham and Mr Farage top on 19 per cent, with Mrs Badenoch on 14 per cent.

In last week's paper Mrs Badenoch said of Reform: 'We are not the same and voters are not ours to trade like football cards.' 

Citing Reform's support for 'a bigger state, more spending, nationalisation, gimmicks and unfunded giveaways', she added devastatingly: 'Reform dress like Thatcherites but act like Corbynites.'