Kemi Badenoch’s dramatic sacking of Robert Jenrick for planning to defect to Reform UK has won her the backing of Tory voters.

A poll reveals that 58 per cent of those who backed the Tories in 2024 think Ms Badenoch’s shock move showed her strength. They agreed it demonstrated she was a ‘strong leader determined to show the Conservatives have changed’.

However, according to analysis by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, just over one in four (28 per cent) Tory voters disagreed. 

They thought the episode where Shadow Cabinet member Mr Jenrick was first sacked and then defected to Reform showed the Conservatives still hadn’t ‘moved on from infighting and divisions’. And 48 per cent of voters in general agreed.

But Ms Badenoch may be buoyed by the fact more than a quarter of Reform voters (26 per cent) said it showed her in a strong light.

For the first time, as many people said she would make a better prime minister than Keir Starmer as vice versa – 29 per cent each.

However, although Ms Badenoch carries the formal title of Leader of the Opposition, Nigel Farage’s party was seen as mounting the ‘most effective opposition’ to Labour. 

One in three of all voters (32 per cent) chose Mr Farage and Reform UK, with even 41 per cent of Tory voters agreeing. 

But confidence in running the economy now firmly lies with the Tories, with 31 per cent backing Ms Badenoch and Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride to hold the reins – with 25 per cent for Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The poll was concluded amid the crisis over Donald Trump’s bid to seize Greenland and his threat to impose tariffs on the UK and other allies for opposing it. The survey of 5,448 people – consulted by Lord Ashcroft Polls between January 15 and 19 – revealed there was deep unease at the US President’s tactics, with 69 per cent saying they didn’t like the way he ‘went about things’ and were worried ‘about the consequences’.

Humiliatingly for the Prime Minister, only 7 per cent of voters believed Mr Trump paid some or a great deal of attention to Sir Keir’s views.

 More than half (52 per cent) thought Mr Trump paid no heed to Sir Keir’s opinion, with 34 per cent saying he took ‘not very much’ notice.