July 25th 2024.
The Conservative Party is in for a wild ride as they search for a new leader following their disappointing performance in the recent election. The pressure is on to find someone who can unite the party and lead them to victory in the next election. However, there is no need to hold on to your hats too tightly just yet, as the announcement of the new leader is still a few months away, set for November 2nd.
Nominations for the leadership opened yesterday, and so far three men have put their names forward: James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, and Robert Jenrick. But more contenders are expected to join the race, representing the diverse range of ideologies within the Conservative party. This could lead to yet another battle for the party's identity, much like the ones we have seen during the Brexit era. However, this time, the candidates are vying to become the Leader of the Opposition, rather than the Prime Minister, at least for now.
Let's take a look at the confirmed and potential candidates for the Conservative leadership race. First up is James Cleverly, who has served in various Cabinet positions under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. Cleverly has been a prominent figure within the party for many years, even holding the position of party chairman under Johnson's leadership. He is known for his media skills and is seen as a potential bridge between the party's right and center wings.
Next up is Tom Tugendhat, a former officer in the Territorial Army. Unlike the other contenders on the list, Tugendhat has never served as a Secretary of State, but he has been in Cabinet as the Minister for Security. He is also well-known for his five-year stint as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Tugendhat has a strong following among both the public and 2024 Tory voters, but he may struggle to gain support from the more right-wing members of the party.
Robert Jenrick, a former Housing Secretary, has reportedly been making calls to both old and new MPs in the hopes of becoming a leadership candidate. He has been vocal about his stance on immigration, an issue that has defined his work in Parliament. He previously served as Immigration Minister and resigned in December 2023, citing a lack of action on the Rwanda deportation scheme. If the party believes that their stance on immigration is what cost them the election, Jenrick could be their pick for leader.
Kemi Badenoch is undoubtedly one of the rising stars of the Conservative party in recent years. She currently serves as the Shadow Housing, Communities, and Local Government Secretary and is the bookies' favorite to become the next leader. Badenoch has made a name for herself by engaging in culture war issues, particularly on gender. This is not her first attempt at the party leadership, as she previously came fourth in the 2022 contest. With the previous top contenders now out of the picture, could Badenoch's time to shine have finally come?
Next, we have Priti Patel, who has been on the backbenches since her resignation as Home Secretary when Liz Truss took over as PM. Patel had a significant impact during her three years in the role, introducing a new points-based immigration system and initiating the plans for the Rwanda deportation scheme. However, she also faced criticism for breaking the Ministerial Code and treating civil servants poorly. Despite this, she still has supporters among the longer-serving MPs, particularly those aligned with Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
Suella Braverman, Patel's successor as Home Secretary, also had a controversial tenure, having been sacked and then reinstated by different Prime Ministers. She is known for her strong views on culture wars and has continued to make headlines since the election. With her loyal supporters in both Johnson and Truss's camps, she may receive a boost in the leadership race.
And finally, we have Mel Stride, the outsider bet for the Tory leadership. Stride has been the Work and Pensions Secretary and has retained that role in the Shadow Cabinet. He is seen as a moderate and competent politician, with a strong media presence. However, he only won his seat by a slim margin in the recent election, indicating the challenges the party may face in the next election.
The race for the Conservative leadership is set to be a fascinating one, with a diverse range of candidates representing different ideologies within the party. As the contenders step forward and make their case, the party will have to carefully consider who can lead them to victory in the next election.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
