WTWN: Return from recess with Rishi's bills and Rayner's regrets

?? Flying High: Kemi Badenoch

Kemi’s killin’ it as she finds herself top of the latest ConHome reader’s poll making her the most popular among Conservative members. Kemi is at a net satisfaction rating of +56.2 compared to Sunak’s -27.7 rating (ouch).

The wins haven’t stopped there: an independent report has accused former Post Office Chair, Henry Staunton, of making “discriminatory remarks” on the grounds of race and sex. This will exonerate Kemi of her previous remarks amid a row between the pair when she fired him, and when it was first revealed that Staunton was being investigated for bullying.

She was also celebrating victory on the frontlines of the culture wars after Michaela School in Wembley won its High Court challenge against a Muslim student who took the school to court over its ban on prayer rituals. Kemi called it a “victory against activists trying to subvert our public institutions.”

And she demonstrated her libertarian credentials by voting against the PM’s flagship smoking Bill – something that will please right-wing Tory backbenchers ahead of the next Conservative leadership election.

?? Middle ranking: Rishi Sunak

Rishi had an action-packed return from recess with his bill to ban under-14s from ever being able to buy ciggies passing, and his Rwanda Bill ping-ponging in the Lords. The various Conservative colours were out this week with the free vote on the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Almost half of Tory MPs decided not to back the bill, highlighting the divisions in the party and the ambitions of those wishing to replace Sunak…Ehm…Kemi.

On the plus side, at least he had a positive PMQs – as far as he can with the devastating poll predictions. A drop in inflation; Angela Rayner’s ongoing tax row; and the results of the Cass Review all provided easy talking points for the PM. However, a headache next door in the Lords continues as the Rwanda Bill will go into a fourth round of parliamentary ping-pong next week. Peers have sent two amendments back to the Commons.

This has been aggravating Tory MPs who believe votes could have been scheduled this week, with the most damning comments coming from a senior minister telling Sky News “they know the version of the policy doesn’t work and they want more time to put off the day of reckoning”.

?? Sinking Quickly: Angela Rayner

The Tax Tales of Rayner is a book that refuses to close, with tax experts telling the Telegraph she could face further questions over the sale of a second property.

Keir Starmer continues to defend Rayner, accusing Sunak of “smearing a working-class woman” after the PM made a jibe at PMQs. But what started as a police investigation on Rayner falsely registering her address on the electoral roll, may now be much wider than that.

The ongoing situation is far from ideal. Not only is the steady drip-drip of stories in the media painting Rayner as untrustworthy, but it also removes Rayner – one of Labour’s best assets - from the airwaves and prevents her from playing to her strengths and attacking the Tories. Whatever the outcome, Labour might have to prepare for similar attacks as we approach the general election.