Poll: Brits want the Democrats to win the midterms

LONDON — Brits would like the Democrats to triumph in the U.S. midterms and believe a Republican win would be riskier for the world, according to a new POLITICO poll. A survey by pollster PF Global found that 40% of Britons would rather the Democrats win control of Congress in U.S. elections on Tuesday, compared to just 15% preferring the Republicans. Even among Reform UK supporters — the right-wing party led by Donald Trump ally Nigel Farage — only 27% want a Republican win compared to 21% for the Democrats. Brits see a Republican hold as a riskier result for the world, with a third expecting global affairs to get more chaotic if the U.S. president’s party controls Congress, compared to 17% who believe it will be less chaotic. Trump has long been unpopular with the British public, and 55% say his presidency has been bad for the U.K. compared to 17% who think it’s been good. His administration is slightly more popular with Reform supporters — but 38% of that cohort still view it negatively, compared to 27% who regard it positively. EU is a more ‘reliable ally’ Brits see a raft of other nations and blocs as more reliable partners than the U.S., the PF Global survey suggests. Only 35% trust the U.S. to act as a reliable ally to the U.K. — a far lower figure than for Australia (66%), Canada (65%), Germany (54%), the European Union (53%) and France (50%). Of the seven options given, those surveyed only saw China as a less trusted partner than the U.S. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s push for a closer relationship with the EU appears to also have public support. The survey suggests more than half the British public (54%) back prioritizing strengthening relations with the EU over Commonwealth countries (46%) and the U.S. (29%). Burnham traveled to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Caribbean on Monday as he seeks to build greater economic cooperation with the 56-strong association of countries — most of which are former territories of the British Empire. Only Reform supporters put strengthening U.S. relations at the top of their list (52%) compared to 48% for Commonwealth countries and 34% for the EU. Seb Wride, head of polling at PF Global, said: “President Trump has rapidly reshaped the transatlantic relationship. Brits see their traditional ally as less reliable, and that is pushing them to explore other alliances. “The question is how far this sentiment extends beyond Trump. A blue wave might be enough for some Brits to feel Trump got what he deserved. But repairing the special relationship is a much bigger ask of a midterm election that few Brits are watching closely.” Indeed, just 22% said they’ve heard a lot about the midterms, compared to 40% who had heard a lot about England footballer captain Harry Kane winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy for the best-performing footballer. PF Global polled 2,038 U.K. adults between Oct. 28 and Nov. 2, 2026.