Business trade secretary Kemi Badenoch topped the polls for the first time (Image: Getty)

       The business and trade secretary topped the Conservative Home survey of senior Tory politicians for the first time.

       It follows the departure of Ben Wallace as defence secretary.

       She had a net positive approval of 59 percent, ahead of Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the Commons, at 47.5 percent, and James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, at 44 percent.

       Rishi Sunak returned to negative ratings following a brief bump from the Conservative by-election victory in Uxbridge & South Ruislip.

       He was on minus 3.8 points, down from 21 last month.

       Commons leader Penny Mordaunt (Image: Getty)

       READ MORE: Academic integrity should not be compromised by trade concessions

       Suella Braverman is on a rating of just 21 percent, the poll revealed (Image: Getty)

       The poll is seen as a good snapshot of Tory grassroots opinion and an indication of the likely frontrunners in a leadership contest if Labour wins the next general election.

       Popular Mr Wallace had long been the favourite among activists but his departure has cleared the way for Ms Badenoch to top the table.

       The poll suggests that, were a leadership election to take place now, she would start as the bookmakers’ favourite.

       Her rating of 59 percent is significantly higher than Suella Braverman, who is at 21 percent.

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       Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is down from 22 points to 10 (Image: Getty)

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       Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is down from 22 points to 10, while Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Grant Shapps are all in negative territory.

       Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, is at the bottom of the table. The poll was conducted last month.

       Ms Badenoch rose to prominence with her striking performances in the first two TV debates during the Tory leadership contest last summer which was ultimately won by Liz Truss.

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