Source: YouGov/Ipsos tracker, May 2026. GB adults.
Approval Trend: November 2024 – May 2026
▬ Broadly stableNet approval since taking over as Conservative leader in November 2024. Source: composite YouGov/Ipsos polls.
Monthly Approval Data
| Month | Approve | Disapprove | Net | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | 26% | 32% | −6 | Elected Conservative leader; high don’t know (42%) |
| Dec 2024 | 27% | 35% | −8 | First conference speech as leader; focus on Rwanda legacy |
| Jan 2025 | 28% | 38% | −10 | Badenoch attacks government on economy; profile rising |
| Mar 2025 | 30% | 42% | −12 | Welfare reform debates; Badenoch opposes cuts on principle |
| Jun 2025 | 31% | 44% | −13 | Pressure from Reform UK flank; party polling at 22% |
| Sep 2025 | 31% | 45% | −14 | Conservative conference; economic credibility push |
| May 2026 | 32% | 47% | −15 | Conservatives polling at 19%, third behind Reform and Labour |
Issue Trust Ratings — Badenoch vs. Other Leaders
% of voters trusting each leader on each issue| Issue | Badenoch (Con) | Starmer (Labour) | Farage (Reform) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brexit Legacy & Sovereignty | 31% | 14% | 29% | Con lead |
| Economy & Growth | 26% | 22% | 22% | Con narrow lead |
| Immigration | 22% | 10% | 38% | Reform dominant |
| Housing | 19% | 21% | 20% | Three-way tie |
| Cost of Living | 20% | 18% | 29% | Reform lead |
| NHS & Healthcare | 18% | 31% | 8% | Labour lead |
| Climate & Environment | 16% | 28% | 4% | Labour lead |
Source: YouGov issue tracker, May 2026.
Conservative Leadership Context
Down from 24% at the 2024 General Election. Third place behind Reform UK and Labour.
Down from 365 in 2019. The Conservatives lost 244 seats in the July 2024 election.
Badenoch is the fourth Conservative leader since Boris Johnson in 2019: Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, then Badenoch.
Approval by Demographic Group — May 2026
Badenoch’s net approval varies significantly by age, gender, and political background. She polls best among Conservative voters (net +47), older men, and Leave voters. She polls worst among 18–34 year olds and Remain voters. Her relatively strong position compared to Starmer (−44) is consistent across most demographic groups.
| Group | Approve | Disapprove | Net | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All GB adults | 32% | 47% | −15 | Current tracker |
| 18–34 | 22% | 52% | −30 | Weakest age group |
| 35–49 | 29% | 50% | −21 | Below average approval |
| 50–64 | 36% | 46% | −10 | Near national average |
| 65+ | 41% | 44% | −3 | Best age group; sceptical of social conservatism |
| Men | 35% | 46% | −11 | Above average among men |
| Women | 29% | 48% | −19 | Below average among women |
| Conservative voters | 74% | 27% | +47 | Strong base approval |
| Reform UK voters | 18% | 68% | −50 | Farage voters hostile to Badenoch |
| Labour voters | 9% | 81% | −72 | Deepest opposition |
| Lib Dem voters | 17% | 63% | −46 | Blue Wall voters still cool |
| 2016 Leave voters | 44% | 43% | +1 | Near-even; Reform has taken many |
| 2016 Remain voters | 18% | 56% | −38 | Strongly negative |
| London | 22% | 55% | −33 | Weakest region |
| North of England | 29% | 50% | −21 | Below average |
| South of England | 39% | 43% | −4 | Strongest region outside Scotland/Wales |
Source: YouGov/Ipsos composite tracker, May 2026. Net = approve minus disapprove.
The Conservative Voter Coalition Under Badenoch
The Conservatives’ 19% polling represents a squeezed coalition. Badenoch faces a two-front war: Reform UK on the right taking Leave voters and working-class men; the Liberal Democrats on the left taking professional homeowners in southern England. The table below shows where Conservative voters come from and how each group rates her leadership.
| Voter group | % of Con VI | Badenoch approval (within group) | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Conservative retainers | ~40% | 79% | Loyal base; mainly older, Leave, South |
| 2024 Reform UK returners | ~18% | 61% | May switch back to Reform before 2029 |
| 2024 Lib Dem crossbacks | ~12% | 54% | Blue Wall defectors starting to return |
| 2024 non-voters now Con-leaning | ~16% | 58% | Low-engagement; could abstain again |
| Labour-to-Conservative switchers | ~14% | 49% | Economic dissatisfaction voters; volatile |
Estimates based on YouGov voting intention and political segmentation analysis, May 2026.
Badenoch’s Policy Positions: Voter Approval
How do voters rate Badenoch’s specific policy positions? YouGov tracks approval of individual policy stances by leader. Her strongest positions are those that create cross-party appeal; her weakest tend to be social conservative positions that alienate centre-ground voters.
| Badenoch policy position | All voters: approve | Con voters: approve | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut public sector wasteful spending | 52% | 81% | Broad appeal |
| Reform immigration system, fewer asylum seekers | 49% | 78% | Broad appeal |
| Oppose net zero at current pace / cost | 44% | 77% | Appeals to right; alienates young |
| Scrap employer NI rise (Labour policy) | 51% | 82% | Strong cross-party resonance |
| Oppose gender self-identification | 43% | 74% | Culturally divisive |
| Reduce overseas aid to 0.5% GNI | 48% | 79% | Popular nationally; less so with youth |
| Restore full grammar school selection | 32% | 58% | Niche; alienates moderates |
| No statutory right to flexible working | 28% | 52% | Unpopular; damages women vote |
| Re-examine Cass Review on gender medicine | 41% | 69% | Politically safe; some crossover |
Source: YouGov policy tracker — “Do you approve of Kemi Badenoch’s stance on the following?” May 2026.
About Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch became Conservative Party leader on 2 November 2024, succeeding Rishi Sunak following the party’s catastrophic defeat in the July 2024 General Election. She had previously served as Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for Business and Trade under Sunak. She is the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party.
Badenoch entered the leadership race as a right-of-centre candidate, positioning herself on issues of free speech, anti-woke culture and economic conservatism. Her initial approval ratings were characterised by high “don’t know” scores (over 40% in November 2024), reflecting the time needed for a new leader to build national name recognition. By May 2026 the don’t know figure had fallen to 21%.
Among the three main leaders, Badenoch holds the least negative net approval at −15 in May 2026. This is partly a structural advantage: opposition leaders typically have more room for manoeuvre than the incumbent PM, who must defend real-world decisions. Her strongest issue areas are Brexit legacy and sovereignty (31%), economic management (26%) and immigration (22%).
The challenge facing Badenoch is the continued threat from Reform UK on her right flank. With Nigel Farage’s party consistently polling at 26–28% nationally, the Conservatives have struggled to recapture voters who switched to Reform. The party’s 19% voting intention in May 2026 leaves it in third place behind both Reform UK and the governing Labour Party. Badenoch’s approval among Reform UK voters (−50 net) signals that her current positioning has not yet attracted those voters back — the central strategic challenge of her leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kemi Badenoch’s approval rating?
As of June 2026, Kemi Badenoch has a net approval rating of −15, with 32% approving and 47% disapproving. She holds the least negative approval rating of the three main UK party leaders — significantly better than Starmer at −44 and Farage nationally at −15 (though Farage is +78 among Reform UK voters). Keir Starmer approval →
When did Kemi Badenoch become Conservative leader?
Kemi Badenoch was elected Conservative Party leader on 2 November 2024, succeeding Rishi Sunak after the Conservatives suffered their worst general election defeat in modern history in July 2024, losing 244 seats and falling to 121 MPs. She is the fourth Conservative leader since Boris Johnson in 2019.
Is Badenoch more popular than Starmer?
Yes. Badenoch’s net approval of −15 is significantly better than Starmer’s −44. However, both leaders are net negative, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction with mainstream British politics. The structural advantage of being in opposition — not having to defend real-world decisions — accounts for much of the gap.
What issues does Badenoch poll strongest on?
Badenoch leads or runs close on Brexit legacy and sovereignty (31% vs Farage 29%), economic management (26%), and immigration (22%, though Reform’s Farage leads at 38%). She trails Labour significantly on NHS, climate, and housing. Her issue profile positions her well for Conservative base voters but limits her appeal to centrist and younger voters.
Can Badenoch win back Reform UK voters?
Polling suggests this is the central challenge of her leadership. Badenoch’s net approval among Reform UK voters is −50 in May 2026 — comparable to how Labour voters view her. Reform voters prefer Farage’s more combative anti-establishment positioning. Only 18% of Reform voters approve of Badenoch. Recapturing these voters before 2029 is critical for Conservative seat viability. Conservative-Reform battlegrounds →
How does Badenoch compare to previous Conservative leaders?
Badenoch’s −15 net approval after six months compares favourably to Rishi Sunak, who was −29 at the same stage of his leadership, and Liz Truss, who reached −70 before resigning. The comparison is partly structural — both Sunak and Truss were PMs managing crises, while Badenoch leads from opposition. Her don’t know score (21%) has fallen faster than most new leaders, suggesting she is building profile effectively. Conservative polling history →
Explore More
Conservative Party Polling
Voting intention, seat projections and history for the Conservative Party under Badenoch.
Keir Starmer Ratings
Starmer net -42% vs Badenoch’s -15. Full approval trend, issue trust and demographic breakdown.
Nigel Farage Ratings
Farage net -15 nationally, +78 among Reform voters. Immigration trust leader at 38%.
Video: Further Analysis
Video: Leader approval ratings for all major UK politicians — how the public views Starmer, Farage, Badenoch, Davey and others in May 2026.