Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       Brexit and beyond email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the most popular cabinet minister in Rishi Sunak’s government, according to a survey charting the views of the Conservative grassroots.

       The business and trade secretary has replaced Ben Wallace as the Tory supporters’ favourite after the well-liked defence secretary left office last week.

       Ms Badenoch tops ConservativeHome’s regular survey of supporters with a positive rating of 59 – eleven points clear of the next most popular minister, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt on 48.

       Foreign secretary James Cleverly and veterans minister Johnny Mercer also enjoy strong support with the grassroots – boasting healthy ratings of 43 and 39 respectively.

       But the latest will be grim reading for Downing Street. Mr Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are among the least popular minister with the Tory faithful – with the prime minister slipping back into negative ratings.

       Recommended Sunak hit by claim of concrete proof he ignored ‘critical risk’ to schools amid Tory meltdown Gavin Williamson ordered to apologise for bullying chief whip after he wasn’t invited to Queen’s funeral Rishi Sunak faces another by-election after Chris Pincher suspension upheld

       Mr Sunak, having been in negative ratings for much of the year, saw a recovery last month, when he up at mid-table, albeit on only 21 points.

       But the PM has fallen back into negative ratings – on minus 3 – in this month’s poll of Tory backers.

       Mr Hunt is even more unpopular among the grassroots, many of whom want tax cuts, with a minus 15 rating that makes him the third least popular cabinet figure.

       Rishi Sunak has fallen back into negative ratings

       (PA Wire)

       On the environment secretary Therese Coffey (minus 23) and immigration minister Robert Jenrick (minus 27) are more unpopular.

       Ms Coffey has been under pressure over the sewage scandals, while Mr Jenrick appears to have borne the brunt of frustration over small boats, since Suella Braverman remains among the most popular ministers with a rating of +21.

       Paul Goodman, editor of ConservativeHome, said that in the first survey of the year, no minister ranked below 30 points. Now, only five rank above that mark, with eight in negative ratings.

       He said it showed a “demoralised” Tory based preparing for Labour to win the general election in 2024. “This is the response of a demoralised panel braced for defeat,” he wrote.

       Ms Badenoch, with her anti-woke attacks on “identity politics”, won widespread on the Tory right during last year’s contest to succeed Boris Johnson and is viewed as a strong future leadership contender.

       Recommended Badenoch clashes with Kuenssberg over post-Brexit trade deals: ‘Stop interrupting me’

       She led talks as the UK formally agreed to become the first European country to join a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc – hailed as “momentous” despite forecasts placing its value at just ￡1.8bn a year.

       The trade secretary recently lashed out at her Brexit critics during her round of Sunday interviews – claiming they had been wrong to “laugh” at the government and should “stop talking Britain down”.

       More about Kemi Badenoch Penny Mordaunt Rishi Sunak Jeremy Hunt Conservatives Brexit

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 2Kemi Badenoch most popular minister among Tory supporters

       Kemi Badenoch most popular minister among Tory supporters

       Rishi Sunak has fallen back into negative ratings

       PA Wire

       Kemi Badenoch most popular minister among Tory supporters

       Business and trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch

       PA Wire

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in