Kemi Badenoch has raced ahead of other potential Tory leaders in the race to replace Rishi Sunak.
Badenoch, 43, topped a poll of grassroots Tories with 38 per cent of the vote.
The survey, conducted by ConservativeHome, put Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt in second on 23 per cent.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman languished behind in third place on 14 per cent.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden and current Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Minister for Women and Equalities and President of the Board of Trade
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All three MPs stood to replace Boris Johnson as Tory Party leader and Prime Minister in 2022.
However, the Brexit-backing trio were eliminated in a ballot of MPs rather than by the membership.
No other Tory MP registered enough support to take them into double-digits.
Johnson received 16 write-in votes and former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tallied 18.
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Suella Braverman
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Badenoch’s popularity appears to have bounced back since May when she called off a “Brexit bonfire” of EU redtape.
She seemingly courted Conservative members with her tougher stance on transgenderism.
However, not all Tory figures appear to want Badenoch to lead the party.
Former MEP David Campbell-Bannerman said: “Kemi now being pushed for No 10 to replace Sunak soon.
Penny Mordaunt
PA
“Close to Gove, she backed his campaign in 2019 and he backed her campaign launch.
“Done well on trade deals, gutsy, but was criticised for not removing many EU regulations (REUL) and pro deposing Boris.”
Others have suggested Badenoch’s potential victory could show signs of the so-called “plot” pushed forward by ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
However, some Tory MPs have rubbished Dorries’ account and rejected the suggestion forces have looked to depose leaders.
