Kemi Badenoch has topped a poll of Tory members on who should be the party’s next leader.
The Business and Trade Secretary, known for her bullish approach on woke issues, came first with 38 per cent in Conservative Home’s survey of party members on who should succeed Rishi Sunak.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who rose to prominence this year with her sword-wielding role at the King’s Coronation, is second on 23 per cent.
Suella Braverman, a darling of the Tory right who was sacked as Home Secretary earlier this year, comes third with 14 per cent and is the only other candidate to make it to double digits.
Home Secretary James Cleverly, who replaced Mrs Braverman in the role, is fourth with seven per cent.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat, a former leadership hopeful, comes fifth with four per cent.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, another ex-leadership candidate, is next with three per cent.
Robert Jenrick, who quit as immigration minister in protest at Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill, is seventh on two per cent.
Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel is also on two per cent.
Backbencher Sir Simon Clarke and so-called Minister for Common Sense Esther McVey both receive one per cent.
Conservative Home polled 647 Tory members for its poll on who should be the party’s next leader.
The findings come as a general election is almost certain to take place next year.
Mr Sunak is battling to turn things around as Labour maintains a double-digit lead in opinion polls.
