Tom Tugendhat has emerged as the leadership contender who is most popular with the public, according to a new Savanta poll shared with Sky News.

The former security minister, who ran for the leadership after Boris Johnson’s tenure, has a net favourability of -3, compared with -28 for Priti Patel, the former home secretary who scored the lowest rating with the public.

Mr Tugendhat is also highly regarded among the moderate One Nation group of Tory MPs.

James Cleverly, the former home secretary who declared his intention to run on Tuesday, is just behind Mr Tugendhat with a net favourability of -9.

And Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary and former business secretary who is seen as a frontrunner on the right, scored a rating of -12, while former home secretary Suella Braverman was given a rating of -23 among the public.

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The poll comes as nominations for the leadership race open on Wednesday at 7pm, with Rishi Sunak‘s replacement as Conservative leader announced on 2 November.

The party said the former prime minister, who led the Conservatives to their worst-ever defeat on 4 July, will remain acting leader until that date.

In the coming days more leadership hopefuls are expected to formally declare their candidacy. They have until Monday to do so, when nominations close at 2.30pm.

In an article for The Daily Telegraph, Mr Cleverly, who is seen in moderate Tory circles as a candidate who could unify the party, said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation as the party who, in government, helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams, and their aspirations”.

The 54-year-old former Tory chairman also issued a plea for unity following the election drubbing, saying: “We need to rediscover confidence that our core values are shared by the British public and present an offer of unity, security, and prosperity.

“We must ditch the self-indulgent infighting and be ready to deliver when the next chance comes.

“This will take dedication, discipline and focus.”

Mr Cleverly’s words come after Ms Braverman said the Conservatives risked becoming “centrist cranks” if they moved into the centre ground.

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She argued the Tories should find an “accommodation” with Reform and welcome its leader Nigel Farage into the party following the disastrous election result that saw Labour win a landslide.

There have been reports that momentum has drained from Ms Braverman’s campaign after she lost the support of high-profile backers including Sir John Hayes and Danny Kruger to former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

Along with Mr Jenrick, Ms Braverman and Ms Patel are expected to compete for the right-wing vote.

Mel Stride, the shadow work and pensions secretary, told Kay Burley on Sky News there was a “reasonable chance” he would run in the race to replace Mr Sunak, saying it was “important for the country that we have a strong Conservative Party”.

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Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, told Sky News it was “game on” in the leadership election.

“The person who will most likely welcome our findings is Tom Tugendhat, who is the most popular Conservative leadership contender among the public and Conservative voters of those we polled,” he said.

“James Cleverley, who just announced his candidacy, is not far behind. Game on.”

To get on the ballot, candidates will need the backing of at least 10 MPs – a proposer, a seconder and eight nominations.

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Tory MPs will then narrow down to four candidates, who will make their case to party members at the Conservative conference this autumn.

The four candidates will then be whittled down to the final two candidates, with the winner chosen by party members.

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