Robert Jenrick is gaining ground on Kemi Badenoch in the Tory leadership race, according to a recent poll. The Independent reported that a new survey suggests that Mr Jenrick is narrowing the gap between himself and Ms Badenoch as they vie to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
Initially, six weeks ago, YouGov data showed Ms Badenoch leading Mr Jenrick by 15 points, with 48% of party members supporting her compared to 33% for Mr Jenrick in a head-to-head scenario. However, the latest polling now reveals that Ms Badenoch is only ahead of Mr Jenrick by four points, with 52% backing her and 48% supporting Mr Jenrick in a final two situation.
The four potential candidates have been actively engaging with party members at the annual conference, participating in leadership hustings, Q&A sessions, fringe events, and drinks receptions. This has been likened to a beauty contest aimed at solidifying support among party members.
Ms Badenoch faced criticism recently after making remarks suggesting that maternity pay in the UK is “excessive.” Although she later clarified her stance, affirming her belief in maternity pay, her rivals, including Mr Jenrick, used this opportunity to emphasise their support for parents and working mums.
During the conference, Mr Jenrick intensified his anti-migration rhetoric, advocating for the UK to consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to address concerns about public safety. He argued that remaining in the convention could expose citizens to dangerous criminals on the streets.
The YouGov poll, conducted for Sky News and based on the responses of 802 Tory members between September 21 and 29, also revealed that James Cleverly would trail behind Mr Jenrick by four points if they were to reach the final round. In a head-to-head with Ms Badenoch, Mr Cleverly would be at an eight-point disadvantage.
The polling data indicated that a potential matchup between Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch would currently result in a win for Ms Badenoch by 58% to 42%. With the final two contenders set to face a vote of party members next month, the competition for the Tory leadership position continues to intensify.