The former immigration minister and standard-bearer for the Tory Right is ahead on 24.2%, a survey of 468 party members suggests.
To tackle the small boats crisis, he backs leaving the European Convention on Human Rights - something 86% of those polled agree with.
Shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch and former home secretary Dame Priti Patel - both prominent figures on the Right - are close behind him on 23.4% and 21% respectively.
Choice
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly is fourth with 4.9%, followed by shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat on 3.4% while shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has 1.9%.
However, just over one in five said they were undecided in the survey carried out from July 31 to August 5.
This story is from the August 08, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the August 08, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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