Badenoch nominates Braverman for Conservative Party award

Kemi Badenoch received 174 of the 716 votes cast in the annual ConservativeHome poll. Photo: Tolga Akmen/Shutterstock

Kemi Badenoch has overtaken Suella Braverman is in a two-horse race for Conservative Home Minister of the Year with two potential rivals in the future Tory leadership contest.

Ms Badenoch , Minister of Business and Trade, received 174 of the 716 votes cast in Parliament. an annual survey for a website often called the bible of grassroots conservatives.

It would put her in pole position for the top job if Rishi Sunak were to step down and suggests she is back on solid ground. Ms Braverman, a former home secretary, received 124 votes, with Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons. was third with 85.

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Both Ms Badenoch and Ms Braverman have been given strong chances for future leadership candidacy since they threw their names into the hat to replace Boris Johnson last year .

Ms Badenoch, who is also equalities minister, was an unexpectedly strong contender. in last summer's vote, earning the support of Michael Gove. Her speech advocated “lean government”, cuts to public spending and free speech, but was beaten by Ms Mordaunt, Mr Sunak and Liz Truss.

Ms Braverman, a stronghold of the Tory right who was sacked by Mr Sunak in November, is also widely seen as hungry. to the top job.

After leaving office, she launched a scathing attack on the prime minister's reputation and demanded a return to a “real Conservative agenda.” She also said Mr Sunak “was rejected by the majority of party members during the summer leadership contest”, in which she came sixth.

It comes after Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was named the most popular member of the Conservative Party. in a separate survey for ConservativeHome. Ms Braverman came third.

If the Tories lose the next general election, expected to be held next year, another leadership race could soon follow.

ConservativeHome also compiles a rating table monthly. The cabinet's popularity saw Mr Sunak fall to his lowest negative rating to date this month. Ms Badenoch came out on top, followed by Ms Mordaunt and Johnny Mercer, the veterans' affairs minister.