KEMI Badenoch says premature Tory leadership speculation is “disrespectful” to Rishi Sunak.

But the Business Secretary yesterday refused to rule out a tilt should the PM resign after an election defeat.

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She is darling of the party’s grassroots and currently the bookies’ favourite to succeed Mr Sunak.

However she declined to engage in post-poll jockeying because her constituents “don’t like us talking about ourselves”.

Ms Badenoch told GB News: “People knew that I tried to run two years ago.

“I didn’t win.

“Rishi Sunak is the one who had the confidence of MPs.

“And I think it’s actually disrespectful if people are talking about what they’re going to do after the leadership when he’s still there.

“My job now is to make sure that I win my seat [and] as many of my Conservative colleagues win their seats and do the very best we can for the country and that means supporting the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in what is a very, very difficult job.”

Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat are all expected to run for leader if they hold on to their seats.