Conservative Leadership Contest Heats Up: Who Will Succeed Sunak Amid Party Turmoil?

Jeremy Hunt has decided not to enter the Conservative leadership contest – who else is poised to take over after Rishi Sunak?

Following the Labour Party's sweeping win, the focus shifts to who will take the helm of the Conservative Party following Rishi Sunak's loss.

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Saturday, July 6, 2024, 13:

Sky News has learned that Jeremy Hunt will not be entering the race for the Conservative party leadership.

The party, transitioning to the opposition role after being in power since 201100, is now searching for its new leader.

Who is poised to enter the race, what are their core beliefs, and importantly, do they enjoy the support of their party's base?

Ms. Badenoch, the former business secretary, is regarded as a favorite among conservatives and has won admiration from some party members for her straightforward demeanor.

Among her most fervent supporters is Michael Gove, the previous Secretary of State for Levelling Up, who retired from his parliamentary role following the recent elections.

Ms. Badenoch successfully retained her stronghold in the North West Essex constituency during the elections.

She participated in the initial Conservative leadership race of 2022 after Mr. Johnson stepped down. In the initial MP ballot, she placed fourth among eight contenders, and was later ousted in the fourth voting round.

Ms. Badenoch has vocally addressed topics such as women's rights, equality, and identity politics.

Ms. Braverman is known among conservative circles for her willingness to express bold views on topics such as immigration and criminal justice.

Mr. Sunak appointed her as the home secretary to appeal to the party's right wing, where she enjoyed significant backing.

Her dismissal in November 2023, after she described homelessness as a "lifestyle choice," could have impacted her reputation with Conservative MPs.

Nevertheless, her strict position on immigration was favorably received by segments of the party base.

She retained her position in the Fareham and Waterlooville constituency, overcoming opposition from the Liberal Democrats.

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Discover more: Identify your current Member of Parliament here. Who secured the most votes overall? Which prominent Conservative members were defeated in the election?

Prior to the vote, Ms. Braverman urged the Conservative Party to collaborate with Reform UK, advocating for the inclusion of Nigel Farage into their ranks.

Following her successful re-election, she expressed regret and admitted that her party had "failed to hear" the nation's voice.

"She emphasized the nation's need for improvement, committing to exert all her efforts to restore confidence. 'It's crucial that we hear you out – your message to us has been loud and clear,' she continued."

The ex-home secretary, who also served as foreign secretary, is currently being discussed among moderate Conservatives as a potential leader to bring the party together.

He retained his position as the representative for Braintree, Essex, during the election.

Mr. Cleverly is among the party's most seasoned ex-cabinet ministers and has previously served as its chairman.

As the home secretary, he was tasked with implementing the controversial policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. Reports suggest he had private doubts about the initiative, although he publicly denied these concerns.

Last year, he sparked outrage and later issued an apology for a date rape joke that he acknowledged could have detracted from the government's efforts to combat drink spiking.

Prior to the election, it was indicated that he would not seek to succeed Mr. Sunak, yet an official statement has yet to be made.

He stated following his win that he would "not make any hasty decisions" regarding the outcome.

Mr. Jenrick served in multiple ministerial capacities, among them the secretary of communities, a role he relinquished during one of Mr. Johnson's cabinet overhauls.

Originally a supporter of Sunak, he was named immigration minister, a role reportedly assigned to him in part to balance the more conservative tendencies of Ms. Braverman.

Subsequently, Mr. Jenrick made news when he stepped down from his position due to his objections to Mr. Sunak's Rwanda policy, stating that he was unable to maintain his role while having significant disputes with the government's approach to immigration matters.

During the election, he also emerged as a spokesperson for the party's conservative wing.

His parliamentary seat in Newark, located in the East Midlands, was considered relatively secure in 2019; however, the margin of victory was significantly narrower in the recent election.

His previous decisions, such as accelerating a £1 billion housing project pitched by a Conservative supporter, could potentially cause him future problems.

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The previous interior minister was once a prominent advocate for conservative values until Ms. Braverman took over the spotlight after Mr. Johnson stepped down.

She maintained a low profile yet made multiple impactful contributions, particularly on fiscal matters, during the latter part of the Conservative party's governance.

Dame Priti is regarded as a more conventional conservative member of her party, in contrast to Ms Braverman, who is favored by several Tory MPs who were elected in 2019.

In Witham, Essex, her constituency has been among the most secure in the nation, and she managed to retain it in the recent election, even though she faced opposition from the Labour Party.

She maintained her allegiance to Mr. Johnson and was also well-liked among Conservative party members.

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Mr. Tugendhat is highly esteemed by the One Nation faction of moderate Conservative MPs.

He had earlier vied for the Conservative leadership following Mr. Johnson's removal, but was eliminated early in the contest and subsequently endorsed Ms. Truss.

He maintained his position in the Tonbridge constituency in Kent.

Mr. Tugendhat is known for his strong views on China, though he softened his tone after joining the government.

He is also an ex-military man.

In a surprising move, Mr. Sunak appointed Lord Cameron as foreign secretary during the final phase of the Conservative government. This marked Lord Cameron's dramatic comeback to high-profile politics after stepping down as prime minister in 2016 due to the EU referendum results.

A comeback in the role of party leader would indeed be surprising and is considered highly unlikely at this point.

The level of backing the ex-Prime Minister would receive from Conservative Party members in a vote remains uncertain, though he could be perceived as a stabilizing influence.

The 2024 election has seen unprecedented breakdowns for a political party, marking a historic moment.

The Conservative Party has experienced a significant decline of 20 points in the national vote, surpassing the previous record set by the Liberal Democrats in 2015 following their dramatic fall from the coalition government.

For the first time in contemporary history, it has dropped below 30%.

Discover further insights from our election expert Michael Thrasher on this topic by clicking here

Odds for the next leader (according to Sky Bet)

Although he doesn't currently hold a seat in Parliament, it's still possible for him to lead the Conservative Party as a Lord.

The most recent instance of a nobleman heading the party by themselves occurred in the late 1800s, during the leadership of the third Marquess of Salisbury.

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