November 2nd 2024.
Today marks the highly anticipated announcement of the new Tory leader, who will take over from former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. After six candidates threw their hats into the ring back in July, the field has now narrowed down to just two contenders: Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
For the past 16 days, party members have had the opportunity to cast their ballots online while the two candidates have been campaigning tirelessly across the country. In the previous round of voting, James Cleverly was the fourth candidate to be eliminated, following Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat.
Interestingly, just yesterday, Shadow Home Secretary Priti Patel was the favorite to secure a spot in the final two after coming out on top in the previous round of voting. But as the saying goes, anything can happen in politics, and now Badenoch and Jenrick are the last two standing.
Badenoch, who has been dubbed a rising star in the Conservative party, is currently the bookies' favorite to win. She has gained attention through her roles as Business Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, particularly for her direct involvement in cultural issues, particularly those surrounding gender.
This is not the first time Badenoch has put herself forward for party leadership, as she previously came in fourth place in the July 2022 contest, behind Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, and eventual winner Liz Truss. With both Mordaunt and Truss losing their seats in the last election and Sunak stepping down, some speculate that Badenoch may be destined for the top spot.
If she were to win, it would be a victory for the right wing of the party, but many believe she also has the potential to appeal to the center. In fact, at her launch event, she criticized the previous government for "talking right but governing left" on issues like net zero.
On the other hand, Robert Jenrick has made immigration his main focus. A former Housing Secretary, Jenrick wasted no time after the General Election in calling both new and old MPs to establish himself as a potential leadership candidate. In his media appearances since, he has honed in on an issue that has been central to his work in parliament since 2022: immigration.
Jenrick was appointed as Immigration Minister in Rishi Sunak's first Cabinet, taking over from Liz Truss as Prime Minister, and remained in the role for over a year. However, he resigned in December 2023, citing Sunak's lack of action in addressing legal issues with the Rwanda scheme.
If the Tories come to the conclusion that their stance on immigration was a contributing factor to their defeat in the last election, Jenrick may be their preferred choice for leader. So far, he has come out on top in both MP ballots. However, he has faced controversies in the past, such as taking long drives during Covid lockdowns and the removal of a Disney-themed mural at a migrant center for children.
The big question on everyone's mind is: when will the new Tory leader be announced? It is expected that the announcement will take place around 11am this morning, although it could happen at any time before then. Once the new leader is announced, Rishi Sunak will officially step down, and the country will have a new leader at the helm of the Conservative party.
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