New poll reveals Tory leadership frontrunner with one candidate just behind
Latest survey of Conservative members shows two candidates are well ahead in the leadership contest.
Robert Jenrick is the frontrunner in the Tory leadership race, according to a new poll of party members.
The former immigration minister received 38.3 percent in the survey by the Right-wing Popular Conservatism group.
Shadow Housing Secretary Kemi Badenoch was second with 30.4 percent in the poll of 444 Tory members.
Centrist candidates James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride took 5.2 percent, 3.8 percent and two percent respectively.
A further 20.3 percent said "don't know" in the poll, which was carried out from August 28 to September 5.
Don't miss... Tory leadership latest odds as favourite emerges after first round of voting [LATEST]
Popular Conservatism director Mark Littlewood said: “Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch appear to be the favourites of the party faithful.
"However, any successful candidate will need to heed the demands of the grassroots members.
"They want to see major reform of the party structures and an unambiguously conservative policy platform.
"Whoever puts forward the most credible offerings in these two areas is likely to become the next party leader."
It comes as MPs will carry out a second round of voting on Tuesday to whittle the number of candidates down to four in the race to replace Rishi Sunak.
They will then take their campaigns to the Conservative Party conference later this month.
Mr Jenrick, who has emerged as a standard-bearer on the Tory Right, topped the first ballot of MPs last week with 28 votes.
Ms Badenoch, who is known for her no-nonsense views on woke issues, was second on 22.
Shadow Home Secretary Mr Cleverly was one vote behind on 21, shadow security minister Mr Tugendhat on 17 and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Stride on 16.
Dame Priti Patel, a prominent Eurosceptic on the Right of the party, became the first contestant to be eliminated after picking up just 14 votes.
After the Tory conference, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for the party's grassroots to choose between. The result of the members' ballot will be announced on November 2.
