Nigel Farage's Brexit Party takes EU elections poll lead

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have been dealt a major blow after a new UK-wide poll found that the newly-formed Brexit Party is on course to win the UK's EU election in May.

In a damning verdict on the main parties, YouGov found the new party, led by Nigel Farage, would recieve 27 per cent of the vote, overtaking Labour at 22 per cent, while the Tories are set to lag behind on just 15 per cent.

Fellow newcomers Change UK: The Independent Group lagged well behind on six per cent, down one point, overtaken by the pro-EU Greens, who are set to get 10 per cent of the vote, and Farage's former party UKIP on seven per cent.

The former UKIP chief formally launched the party last week after a rocky start in which its original leader Catherine Blaiklock resigned over anti-Islam tweets.

Farage unveiling a raft of candidates including former Tory candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg - sister of arch-Brexiteer MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Britain is set to go the polls on 23 May to elect a new round of MEPs, following the latest delay to Brexit until 31 October.

The launch of Farage’s new party follows his resignation from UKIP, which he led top spot in the 2014 EU election, two points and three points above Labour and the Tories respectively.

UKIP has since lost 20 of its 24 MEPs to the new party, defections or retirements.

Farage quit his former party last December over what he branded the current leadership’s "fixation" with right-wing activist Tommy Robinson and the issue of Islam. He was followed by Scotland's UKIP MEP David Coburn and others.

Labour MP and supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, Dame Margaret Beckett, said warned Corbyn that only Labour could halt Mr Farage’s progress.

“These elections have proven to be rich hunting grounds for Nigel Farage’s brand of extreme right-wing politics before and may be again.

“There is nothing to be gained by denying that we support the public getting the final say which is what the overwhelming majority of our voters, members and MPs want.

"If we hedge our bets or say we back another form of Brexit, Labour loses voters and Farage will storm to first place."