Discontented members of the Conservative Party are losing faith in Kemi Badenoch, with a significant portion believing she is not fit to lead the party in the upcoming election. According to a recent YouGov poll, only 46% of party faithful support her continuation as the party leader, while 50% oppose the idea.
The survey also revealed a divide among members regarding Badenoch’s future tenure, with 49% speculating that she will step down before the next election, while 47% believe she will remain in her post. Despite defeating Robert Jenrick in the previous leadership race, Badenoch now faces a popularity challenge, as the poll indicates that Jenrick is favored by 46% of members compared to Badenoch’s 39%.
With Reform UK gaining momentum, a significant 64% of Conservative members advocate for an electoral alliance with Nigel Farage’s party, and nearly half (46%) support a complete merger. On the contrary, the majority of Conservative members (93%) oppose forming a coalition with the Labour Party, but 73% are open to the idea of a coalition with Reform UK.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has garnered favor among more than half (53%) of Conservative members, although 45% hold an unfavorable view of him. Despite growing calls for collaboration with Reform UK, Badenoch has consistently rejected the notion, citing Farage’s past statements about dismantling the Conservative Party.
The Conservative Party’s quest for relevance at a lackluster party conference in Manchester continues, with reports of a subdued atmosphere as delegates express disappointment over low attendance and the absence of typical protesters.
The YouGov survey, conducted for Sky News between September 26 and October 2, gathered opinions from 652 Conservative members.