A new YouGov poll has revealed growing unease within the Conservative Party over Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, with half of Tory members expressing a desire for new leadership ahead of the next UK general election.
According to the survey — conducted between September 26 and October 2 and reported by Sky News on October 6 — 50 percent of Conservative Party members believe Badenoch should not lead the party into the next election, while 46 percent still back her to continue as leader.
The poll also positions Robert Jenrick, who narrowly lost to Badenoch in last year’s leadership contest, as the clear favourite among members to take over. When asked who they would prefer as Conservative leader, 46 percent chose Jenrick, compared with 39 percent for Badenoch, while 11 percent said neither and 4 percent remained undecided.
Party members appear split on Badenoch’s political future: 49 percent think she will be replaced before the election, while 47 percent believe she will remain in office. The Tory leader will aim to solidify her position at this week’s Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, where unity and electoral readiness are expected to dominate discussions.
Despite internal divisions, Badenoch continues to enjoy relatively strong personal approval ratings. The poll found that 70 percent of members hold a favourable view of her, compared with 29 percent unfavourable. Jenrick, however, scored even higher, with 73 percent viewing him favourably and 20 percent unfavourably.
On policy direction, Badenoch has rejected any potential electoral pact with Reform UK, despite 64 percent of Tory members supporting such an alliance to prevent splitting votes in key battleground constituencies. Only 31 percent opposed the idea.
Interestingly, the survey also indicated that Jenrick would comfortably outperform other potential contenders, including Boris Johnson, James Cleverly, and Priti Patel, in a leadership race. Badenoch, however, is projected to narrowly edge out Johnson in a direct head-to-head contest.
The poll surveyed 652 Conservative Party members, reflecting the growing internal debate over the party’s direction and leadership strategy as the next general election looms.
