October 7th 2024.
The race for the next leader of the Conservative party is heating up, with the final two candidates being chosen this week. But don't get too excited just yet, as the announcement won't be made until November 2nd, almost a month away.
Initially, six contenders threw their hat in the ring: Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, and Priti Patel. However, after two rounds of voting from the party's 121 MPs, only Badenoch, Cleverly, Tugendhat, and Jenrick remain.
The leadership contest has been marked by some internal disagreements but has largely flown under the radar of the general public. However, with the party's members set to choose the future direction of the party, the candidates are vying to become Leader of the Opposition rather than Prime Minister.
So who are the contenders for the top spot? Here's what you need to know about the confirmed candidates for the Conservative leadership race.
James Cleverly, one of the most prominent Conservative MPs, was the first to announce his candidacy on social media. He believes he is the best person to unite the party and has served in Cabinet under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.
Tom Tugendhat, a former officer in the Territorial Army, was the second candidate to enter the race. He has never served as a Secretary of State but has held positions such as Minister for Security and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Tugendhat previously ran for the leadership in 2022 but withdrew and supported Liz Truss.
Robert Jenrick, a former Housing Secretary, was the third to announce his candidacy. He has focused on immigration issues during his time in parliament and has been the top choice in both MP ballots so far.
Kemi Badenoch, currently the shadow Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, was initially the bookies' favorite for the leadership position. She has gained attention for her outspoken views on gender and previously ran for the leadership in 2022.
Two candidates have already been eliminated from the race. Priti Patel, who served as Home Secretary under Boris Johnson, was the first to drop out after receiving only 14 votes in the first round. Mel Stride, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, was eliminated in the second round of voting.
Although he didn't make it to the final two, Stride is considered a popular choice for the position of shadow chancellor. The party has a big task ahead of them, and whoever becomes the new leader will have a lot of work to do in order to regain the trust of the British people.
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