Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has emerged as the most popular political party leader in the country, a recent poll has revealed.
The survey by More In Common shows that Badenoch, who was born in London and spent part of her early years in Nigeria, has gained public approval thanks to her straight-talking approach. She now boasts a net approval rating of minus 9, a dramatic improvement from minus 32 ahead of her party conference last October.
The poll places her ahead of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (minus 11) and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage (minus 16). Green Party leader Zack Polanski sits on minus 16, while Labour leader and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer trails all four major party leaders on minus 42.
The rise in Badenoch’s popularity has been linked to a series of high-profile interventions, including her challenge over Angela Rayner’s tax affairs and her stance on the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Despite her personal boost in approval, the Conservative Party has yet to see a corresponding rise in its fortunes, the survey suggests.
Badenoch still trails Farage on leadership strength, but scores higher in areas such as caring for the public and transparency. Luke Tryl, UK director of More In Common, told The Sunday Times that her name recognition has improved significantly.
“Whereas last summer we’d run whole focus groups where no one would know who Kemi was, she is now often brought up spontaneously, and even some who would never vote Tory admire her conviction and straightforwardness,” Tryl said.