Overview
- YouGov polling published Thursday shows 38% of Britons say Badenoch is doing well as Conservative leader and 27% view her as a prime minister in waiting.
- The same poll records only about 20% of voters intending to back the Conservatives, a small rise that leaves the party behind Labour in overall party support.
- Researchers point to a trust and learning deficit as a major barrier, with many voters saying the Conservatives have not learned lessons from the last general election.
- The survey finds a pronounced "Kemi Bonus" among Reform UK supporters who are much more likely to see her as prime ministerial, but that cross-party admiration has not yet translated into broad Tory gains.
- Andy Burnham holds a stronger net approval and Labour leads on party ratings, meaning Badenoch’s improved personal standing may reshape leader perceptions without immediately changing the electoral landscape.