725 members participated in a YouGov poll conducted by the Party Members Project, which is affiliated with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sussex University.

Thirteen percent of those questioned supported Ms. Badenoch after the "none" and "don't know" responses were eliminated.

She was followed by Suella Braverman on 16% and Tom Tugendhat on 15%.

Reports have suggested support for Ms Braverman among Tory MPs is waning, while Ms Badenoch is said to have dressed down Rishi Sunak and his general election strategy in the first Conservative shadow cabinet meeting.

The full list of results is as follows:

• Kemi Badenoch: 31%;

• Suella Braverman: 16%;

• Tom Tugendat: 15%;   

• Jeremy Hunt: 12%;

• James Cleverly: 10%;

• Robert Jenrick: 7%;

• Priti Patel: 6%;

• Victoria Atkins: 2%.

It is worth noting Jeremy Hunt has already ruled himself out of the race.

The exact rules for how the next party leader will be chosen are yet to be established - and it is not clear what role the membership will have.

However, with Bob Blackman becoming chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, the wheels are now in motion for the process to begin in earnest.