‘Kemi Badenoch is the only hope the Tories have of avoiding total destruction’

Former business secretary tops exclusive Telegraph poll to become readers’ favourite in Conservative leadership contest

The race to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader is officially underway, with six senior Tory MPs making the ballot.
Kemi Badenoch recently joined James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride in the contest with a declaration that capitalism is not a “dirty word”.
Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, announced in The Telegraph on Sunday that she will not be running as a candidate.
Mrs Badenoch, the former business secretary and now the Tory shadow communities secretary, enters the race as not only the bookmakers’ favourite but also the preferred candidate of Telegraph readers. 
In an exclusive poll conducted by this newspaper, 40 per cent of over 14,000 voters think she should be the next party leader. Mr Jenrick trails with 17 per cent of the vote, closely followed by Mr Tugendhat with 15 per cent of the vote. 
For many readers, Mrs Badenoch is the candidate Britain needs. Reader Matthew Mackey says she is the “voice of reason” and “the only real hope the Tories have of avoiding total destruction”.
“Clever, intelligent, well-read and reasoned. The only candidate who can not only take on Labour but contain the defections to Reform UK,” he continues. 
Martyn P adds: “This lady is a no-nonsense woman who could well shake up the party. She’s very strong-willed – which is what the Tories need to get out of the black hole –  and not afraid to tell the truth.”
Meanwhile, Conor Smith thinks that if Mrs Badenock comes out on top, the Conservatives will “sweep back into power at the next election”.
“Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage for five years combined in Parliament will crucify Sir Keir Starmer,” he continues. 
However, others don’t think Mrs Badenoch has what it takes. Reader Thomas Pain, for example, thinks she “talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk.”
Mr Pain also has reservations over whether Mrs Badenock can win over Reform voters. 
Another anonymous reader shares how they don’t understand the appeal of the Tory shadow communities secretary, arguing that, “she has done nothing of note and on some areas is decidedly Left-wing!”
For others, Mr Jenrick is the answer. The former immigration minister would get reader Shirley Mills’s vote, viewing him as “a unifying figure for change.” To reader John Barrasford, Jenrick is “a man of principles and honesty.”
Mr Jenrick also appeals to Colleen Morrison but has reservations over him never having “held one of the great offices of state”, which she feels should be a requirement for the position.
Reader John Bell also weighed in: “Robert Jenrick, writing in this newspaper, said that the Tories needed to ‘repent’ for their gross betrayal on immigration. He was right and it shows that his heart is in the right place.”
Elsewhere, since Mrs Braverman announced her decision to withdraw from the leadership contest, the former home secretary has been courted by Reform UK. 
Many supporters back calls for her to defect to Reform, believing the Tories to be a lost cause. A Telegraph poll shows 81 per cent of over 14,000 voters believe she should defect. 
“She should 100 per cent defect and take all the true conservatives left with her. The Tories are dead. Reform is the future,” voiced reader Matthew Olney. 
Reader Danielle Fox shared how “five of us in my family voted Reform UK for the first time”. 
“As Suella Braverman is not running we will not be returning to the Conservatives and will support Nigel Farage in building a new party of commonsense.” 
For a large proportion of readers, it is a case of ‘none of the above’ – with the candidates up forward for the Tory leadership race left many uninspired. 
“The lack of talent is astounding”, reader Sean Clarke remarks. “This is the Tories’ main problem: the party has split. The chances of putting it back together are remote.”
Similarly, reader Daryl Linson says, “Looking at the candidates, I don’t hold much hope for the Conservatives.” However, he thinks “the answer lies to the Right, not the Left of the party.”
Likewise, there’s nobody in the Conservative Party that reader Phil Harris would vote for either. He explains, “I liked Kemi Badenoch best, but she achieved absolutely nothing in office and her recent rebuttal to Dr Who showed her hypocrisy in playing the race card.
“Suella Braverman and Priti Patel are the only other two conservatives left, and they both spectacularly failed in taking any action whatsoever in their roles as home secretary.”
Some, like Andrew Turner, call for fresh faces: “Not one of these names is worthy. The party needs new blood and new views that marry those of the public
“Let’s hope Rishi Sunak pushes for change and a new and capable face emerges. If not, it’s 10 years of Labour.”
A number of readers argued that the leadership hopefuls are no match for Nigel Farage. To reader Noel Stevens, only the Reform UK leader can be trusted on immigration and a great deal more.” 
Others, including reader Duncan Rose think, “the choice is obvious to all except the Tory Party. Merge with Reform, appoint Farage as leader. Then boot out all the wets and so-called centrists. Move to the Right and enjoy a landslide in 2029.”