Badenoch pips Braverman to ‘minister of year’ award

KEMI BADENOCH has pipped Suella Braverman to the post in a two-horse race for “minister of the year”, presaging a future leadership contest.

The Business and Trade Secretary won 174 out of 716 votes cast in an annual survey for Conservative Home, often dubbed a Tory grassroots bible.

It would put her in pole position for the top job if Rishi Sunak were to step down, and suggests she is back on firm ground after her popularity dipped in the spring with the thwarting of her Brexit laws bonfire.

The former home secretary placed second, with 124 votes, while Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, came in third, with 85.

Both Ms Badenoch and Ms Braverman have been heavily tipped for a future leadership bid, having previously thrown their names in the hat to replace Boris Johnson.

The Business Secretary, who is also equalities minister, was a surprise strong contender in last summer’s vote, earning the support of Michael Gove.

Her pitch championed “lean government” and lesser state spending, as well as free speech. During the race she voiced criticism of the “arbitrary” 2050 net zero target and “identity politics”.

She did better than expected, beaten only by Ms Mordaunt, Mr Sunak and Liz Truss.

Ms Braverman, a champion of the Tory Right who was sacked by Mr Sunak in his latest reshuffle, is also widely thought to be hungry for the top job.

On leaving the Cabinet, she launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister’s record and demanded a return to an “authentic conservative agenda”.

She also took the opportunity to remind people that he was “rejected by a majority of party members during the summer leadership contest”, in which she placed sixth.

Sir Jacob Rees-mogg was named the most popular Tory backbencher in a separate survey for Conservative Home. Ms Braverman also performed well, coming in third.

The competition was won last year by Lee Anderson, the “Red Wall rottweiler” who is now deputy party chairman.

Should the Tories lose the next general election another leadership race could soon follow.

Conservative Home also runs a monthly league table of Cabinet ministers’ popularity, which saw Mr Sunak fall to his lowest negative rating to date in December.

Ms Badenoch came out on top, followed by Ms Mordaunt and veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer.