Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has gained more support as MPs voted in the latest stage of the race to replace Rishi Sunak. The shadow home secretary received backing from Paul Holmes, who resigned as a Tory whip to openly endorse Mr. Cleverly. This round of voting will see one of the remaining four candidates – Mr. Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch, and Robert Jenrick – eliminated from the contest.
After the latest voting round on Tuesday, a further vote by MPs on Wednesday will narrow the field to a final two candidates who will then face a ballot of Tory members. The support from Mr. Holmes, who quit as a whip to endorse Mr. Cleverly, highlighted Cleverly’s readiness to act decisively from day one and unite the party for effective delivery.
Former leadership contender Mel Stride also backed Mr. Cleverly, who became the bookmakers’ favorite following his address at the party’s conference where he urged party members to present Conservatism in a positive light. Momentum for Mr. Cleverly could potentially leave Mr. Tugendhat vulnerable in the next round of voting.
Former minister Steve Baker, a supporter of Mr. Tugendhat, emphasized the importance of making tough decisions for successful leadership. Mr. Tugendhat’s stance on critical issues such as the European Convention on Human Rights was noted as superior.
Meanwhile, former immigration minister Mr. Jenrick’s campaign centered on leaving the ECHR faced criticism for making controversial statements. Former business secretary Ms. Badenoch also faced backlash for her stance on statutory maternity pay during the conference.
The new Conservative leader, to be announced on November 2, will now have to quickly respond to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget on October 30. The drawn-out leadership process has been a point of contention among some candidates who feel the process delays the party’s ability to respond effectively to crucial events.
Stay updated for the next voting results and the ultimate selection of the new Tory leader.