A recent YouGov poll has revealed that conservative voters hold a critical view of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, with only 25% considering her to be a potential prime minister.
Gatekeepers News reports that this poll coincides with the 100-day mark since Badenoch took on the role of Tory leader in October.
The survey indicates that less than half (48%) of those who voted Conservative in the last election perceive Badenoch as a viable candidate for Prime Minister, while 26% do not. The overall sentiment among the electorate is also lukewarm, as only 14% of all voters believe she possesses the necessary qualities to lead the country.
Among supporters of Reform UK, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats—key groups Badenoch would need to attract to secure a path to No. 10—approximately two-thirds do not view her as prime ministerial material. Furthermore, public trust in her appears low, with 39% of respondents labelling her as untrustworthy compared to just 19% who find her trustworthy. Additionally, a notable 39% dismissed her as dislikable, while 24% considered her likeable.
Despite these concerns, 56% of voters who backed the Conservatives in 2024 believe Badenoch is performing well in her role, whereas only 17% think she is doing poorly. Nevertheless, Badenoch has faced challenges early in her leadership, including a recent poll indicating that the Conservative Party is currently in third place behind Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Interestingly, the latest YouGov poll suggests that a significant majority of voters (66%) and 59% of Conservative supporters feel the party’s situation would remain the same regardless of who is leading. In related political developments, senior Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart did not dismiss the possibility of the Conservative Party forming a coalition with Reform UK ahead of the next election to consolidate support on the right.
A JL Partners poll for the Sunday Times forecasts Reform UK potentially winning 102 seats in the upcoming election—an increase from their current five. The same poll projects that Labour could lose 211 seats yet still remain the largest party with around 200 MPs, just ahead of the Conservatives, who may secure about 190 seats.
