Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat (Image: GETTY)
is closing the gap on K in the Conservative leadership race, new polling shows.
The former immigration minister, who has emerged as a standard bearer of the Tory right, is up seven points to 25% in the survey of Tory members by the influential Conservative Home website.
The shadow housing secretary, who is known for her combative views on woke issues, remains in the lead on 36%, up two points from previous polling.
Centrist candidates Tom Tugendhat and are both level on 13%.
A further 13% of respondents to the poll of 812 Tory members, carried out from September 26-7, said they did not know.
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It comes as the Conservative leadership hopefuls are set to make their pitches to the membership as the party’s conference gets under way.
The first conference since their election defeat in July kicks off in Birmingham today.
Ms Badenoch, Mr Jenrick, Mr Tugendhat and Mr Cleverly will be vying for support in the contest.
Candidates touched on subjects from tax to immigration and the party’s future in a series of interviews and op-eds.
The leadership candidates hoping to succeed will all have an opportunity to address the conference – which will run until Wednesday – and their campaigns will be lobbying MPs before parliamentarians pick the final two on October 10.
Members will choose between those two, with the result declared on November 2.