Talk about the fickle nature of politics. Two months ago, Kemi Badenoch was crowned as the Tory members’ favourite, according to the Conservative Home league table of party activists. But now her crown has been stolen by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, who nabs the top spot for the first time with an impressive +71.8 points.
Cleverly’s ascent comes after a month in the spotlight, dealing with the ongoing crisis over Gaza. As Paul Goodman, the editor of Conservative Home notes, his rise in standing bears some comparison to Ben Wallace, another military man. Wallace was the longtime favourite for 18 months before his departure in September, having impressed with his handling of Ukraine. The then Defence Secretary mulled a bid for the Tory leadership in July 2022 but eventually ruled it out. Might Cleverly go one step further…?
Badenoch meanwhile can take comfort from an enhanced satisfaction rate of +67 points.
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