Almost half of Tory members want party to merge with Reform, poll reveals
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor from on (#6P3WP)
Kemi Badenoch emerges as leadership favourite among grassroots Conservatives, with 31% support among those surveyed
Almost half of Conservative grassroots members are in favour of a merger with Nigel Farage's Reform UK, according to a poll, with Kemi Badenoch the favourite to be the next party leader.
Data gathered by YouGov since the general election shows the former business secretary, who is said to have been a significant critic of Rishi Sunak's decision to call a summer general election, has twice the grassroots support of Suella Braverman, the hardline former home secretary, and Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister who is the frontrunner from the party's centre-right.
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