Kemi Badenoch set to defeat all five rivals in Tory leadership contest, new poll reveals By Martin Beckford Policy Editor Published: 00:48, 24 August 2024 | Updated: 00:55, 24 August 2024 e-mail View comments Kemi Badenoch is the frontrunner to win the Tory leadership contest, a poll of party members shows. The party's housing spokesman was backed by 24 per cent of the 910 Conservatives surveyed by YouGov. But the pollster said there was 'some encouragement' for her rivals as the 'field remains open'.
Shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, seen as the establishment candidate, came second on 16 per cent. James Cleverly , the centrist former home secretary, was third on 14 per cent followed closely by Robert Jenrick , favoured by the Right of the party, on 12 and Dame Priti Patel on 11. The party's housing spokesman was backed by 24 per cent of the 910 Conservatives surveyed by YouGov Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride , a close ally of Rishi Sunak , came last – backed by just 2 per cent of those polled.
YouGov said Mrs Badenoch also fared best when party members were asked to choose between her and each of the other hopefuls. She won all five head-to-heads put to a random selection of Tory members, beating Mr Tugendhat by 18 points, Mr Jenrick by 15 and Mr Cleverly by nine. Mrs Badenoch has so far been backed publicly by eight serving Tory MPs, including those on both the Left and Right of the party who believe she would be a strong leader who could take the figh.