Robert Jenrick today insisted the Tory leadership battle is not over despite a poll suggesting Kemi Badenoch is coasting to victory.
The former immigration minister said the race was ‘neck and neck’ as he played down the latest research by the ConservativeHome site.
The closely-watched survey of the grass roots website’s panel indicated that Ms Badenoch is ahead by 55 per cent to 31 per cent, with barely a week until Rishi Sunak’s successor is announced.
Although Tory members are notoriously hard to poll, ConHome has consistently found Ms Badenoch in the lead.
Mr Jenrick has been trying to change his fortunes with a high-octane flurry of media appearances.
But in contrast Ms Badenoch’s campaign has been relatively low-key, suggesting her main goal is protecting her advantage.
Asked at a speech this morning whether the contest was effectively over, Mr Jenrick said: ‘Absolutely not – this is neck and neck, that’s a survey not a poll.’
He claimed that previous polls had shown the contest to be ‘neck and neck’, adding: ‘There’s everything to fight for, and I’m certainly going off around the country as I have throughout the summer.
‘And I think my message is resonating with members and with the public that we need to learn our lessons, we need to have strong and clear policies now, not the vague promise of one tomorrow, unite the party and take the fight to Labour as quickly as possible.’
Tory members have been voting for a fortnight since the shock eviction of favourite James Cleverly from the competition in the last round of voting by MPs.
The new leader will miss out on a high-profile platform of responding to the Budget on Wednesday, with Mr Sunak running point as one of his final moments in the job.
There are also concerns that the winner will quickly be overshadowed by drama across the Atlantic, with the US election happening on November 5.