Penny Mordaunt has overtaken Kemi Badenoch to the top spot in a poll of Tory members.
The Commons Leader, a former leadership contender, is up seven points with a net satisfaction rating of 55 in Conservative Home’s latest Cabinet league table.
The Business and Trade Secretary, also an ex-leadership hopeful, is down eight points from last month to a score of 50.
Ms Mordaunt’s rise comes after she led the Government’s response to a Commons row over a Gaza ceasefire motion by the SNP.
Meanwhile, a record 11 ministers are in negative ratings in the survey of the party faithful.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is second from last with a net score of minus 23.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who is expected to unveil tax cuts in his Budget today, is third from bottom on minus 20.
Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson comes last with a rating of minus 39.
Others in the red include Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is in third place with a net approval rating of 47.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is fourth on 29, while Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is next on 28 points.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat, a former leadership hopeful, is sixth with a score of 26.
Esther McVey, the so-called Minister for Common Sense and Daily Express columnist, is seventh with a net rating of 25.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride and Welsh Secretary David TC Davies complete the top 10.
