Conservative Leadership Election

  • Badenoch new leader (National News Report)

  • Badenoch new leader

    Conservatives in the UK have elected their new leader. Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives), a Brexit supporter and believer in conservative values, beat runner up Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Conservatives), 57% to 43% in a membership ballot.

  • Tories wait for next leader

    The Conservative party faithful have voted for their next leader, and the result is due out tomorrow. It’s a choice between Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives), and Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Conservatives), the two frontrunners in a long contest.

    It’s difficult to scry a prediction between the two. The Conservatives seem in a mire of their own. The loss of Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton/Conservatives) is a great one, and Sir Keir Starmer is putting up an impressive fight against the odds at present.

  • Tories whittle to two

    The Tories voted out James Cleverly MP (Braintree/Conservatives) in the final phase of the MP’s ballot for leadership of the party. It turns next to the party faithful to place their online vote. They’ve got until the end of the month.

    Now left in the running are Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives) who won with 34.7% of the vote, and Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Conservatives) who surged ahead to edge out Cleverly with 33.9% of the vote.

  • Tories boot Tom

    Tom Tugendhat MP (Tonbridge/Conservatives) has lost his place in the running to be the next Conservative leader.

    He got 16.8% of the vote compared to frontrunner James Cleverly (Braintree/Conservatives) who got 32.8%.

    The MP’s phase of ballot’s is due to conclude tomorrow as the remaining candidates are reduced to two.

    Next, party members will get the chance to vote for the winner in the hopes of winning back the keys to Number 10.

  • Patel knocked out

    Priti Patel (Witham/Conservatives) has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership race in the first MP’s ballot. She ended her campaign in last place with 11.9% of the vote, behind fifth place Mel Stride on 13.6%.

    In first place was Robert Jenrick (Newark/Conservatives) who gained 23.7% of the votes cast. It means there are five candidates left until the second MP’s ballot next week.

  • Is Tugendhat a winning formula?

    The Conservative party leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat is set on winning. He believes he can restore their fortunes as a winning party.

    “I want to be completely open about what I’m doing. I am not just running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. I am running to be the next Conservative Prime Minister.”

    He says their problem is disunity but doesn’t say how he’ll fix it. Perhaps he believes a leader stops it happening in the first place.

  • Who is Mel Stride?

    Mel Stride is standing for the Conservative leadership on a wordy platform, that is according to his campaign website.

    He’s iterated a complete vision of a better party based along the lines of his leadership. The question is over what he can bring to the table.

    He represents Central Devon, typically a place known for old age. His experience in politics has served an ill-fitting reputation well. His ambition, however, is to lead a political party to power.

    His secular experience is in the line of work the party is known for; conferences, publishing, and business activities. It stands him well with members, but would it count towards a general election?

  • Is Badenoch up to it?

    Kemi Badenoch is a fresh figure in conservatism but relatively inexperienced as well. She, like a few of the other leadership candidates, face a problem of lack of gravity. The likes of Lord Cameron and more recently Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak loom larger.

    Her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, however, largely because she tries so hard. She has a campaign of her own – Renewal 2030 – that pledges to restore the party. It’s underpinned by a belief Starmer takes off Blair too much and Reform UK threaten to undermine the party also.

    Indeed, in an article written three days before the election she said Labour winning would “surrender” Number 10 to the enemy. These are strong terms, but Badenoch knows her territory. She even defended Nigel Farage when Natwest debanked him, so she’s cut her teeth too.

  • Priti brightens up the place

    Aside from MP’s said to be feeling under threat, Conservative leadership candidate Priti Patel MP is at least willing to go out.

    Patel was re-elected for Witham with 32.7% of the vote, a drop from 66.6% in 2019. It came in an election that went down as disastrous for the Conservative party.

    It’s not a good result, but this campaign is about party members and not just anyone’s next-door neighbour.

    The reaction at hustings events and meet-and-greets across the country is key. She’s been to Somerset, the East Midlands, and Harrogate to name a few locations.

    She’s had a good time as well, by the looks of it. Her Facebook profile is replete with happy, smily pictures.

    Her platform is less happy and snappy, and more serious, however.

    Her campaign slogan is “Unite to Win” and touts 30 years of experience behind her of serving the party. In real terms, you’d imagine this counts for little.

    Yet after a bruising defeat, a more outgoing and lasting leadership may be what’s needed. In hindsight, it may be Patel’s year after all.