Can Kemi Badenoch reach the final two of the Tory leadership contest? So far this has been the key question at Conservative party conference. Of the leadership candidates, Badenoch has had the bumpiest conference so far, with criticism of her comments on maternity pay and business regulation more generally.
The argument from the Badenoch camp is that she is the clear favourite with the membership so it would be wrong to block her from reaching the final stage of the contest, where the grassroots get to pick their favourite out of two candidates.
However, adding to Badenoch’s difficulties is a new poll of the membership. A YouGov poll suggests that Badenoch’s apparent lead has reduced over the course of the contest. Six weeks ago, the pollster had Badenoch on an 18-point lead over her nearest rival, Robert Jenrick. The latest poll sees that lead slashed to four points.
In a two-horse race, Badenoch polls 52 per cent to Jenrick’s 48 per cent.
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