James Cleverly Leads as Tom Tugendhat Exits Tory Leadership Race; Finalists Narrowed to Three

Tom Tugendhat is out of the Conservative leadership contest, with James Cleverly leading the pack in the most recent round of voting.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 16:

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Tom Tugendhat has been eliminated from the Conservative leadership contest, having secured the fewest votes from MPs.

The competition has been whittled down to three candidates: James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, and Robert Jenrick, who are all vying to succeed Rishi Sunak.

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Mr. Cleverly surpassed Mr. Jenrick in today's election, securing the support of 39 of his peers.

Mr. Jenrick received 31 votes, followed by Ms. Badenoch with 30 votes, and Mr. Tugendhat with 20 votes.

On Wednesday, Members of Parliament will cast another vote to narrow down the candidates to two finalists, who will then be put forward for a vote by Conservative Party members in the following month.

Mr. Tugendhat expressed his gratitude to his supporters on X, stating: "Your enthusiasm, your concepts, and your backing have illustrated a potential future for our party.

"Our campaign may be over, but our dedication to our nation endures."

Mr. Tugendhat held the position of security minister during Mr. Sunak's term as prime minister. Prior to his parliamentary career, he was part of the military, a background he emphasizes to position himself as a champion of public service.

Regarded as a member of the party's moderate, central faction, he tied for third place with ex-home secretary Mr. Cleverly in the previous voting round, during which Mel Stride was eliminated.

Mr. Cleverly experienced a significant increase in backing following last week's Conservative Party conference, where his speech, which encouraged members to adopt a "more normal" demeanor and to "promote Conservatism with a smile," was met with widespread approval.

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Following the vote, he expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking his colleagues for their support and expressing his satisfaction at advancing to the next stage.

He continued, "There's more work to be done. I'm eager to continue promoting our optimistic Conservative values."

Mr. Cleverly is expected to reach the final round as the representative of the "One Nation" faction, whereas Mr. Jenrick and Ms. Badenoch are viewed as competitors for the backing of the party's right wing.

Before, they were seen as the leading candidates, having secured the top two positions in the initial rounds of the vote.

Both individuals came under fire for remarks they made at the party conference. Mr. Jenrick was criticized for stating that the SAS prefers to eliminate terrorists instead of capturing them due to fears that the "European Court will release them," a claim that several of his peers challenged.

In a recent turn of events, the previous business secretary, Ms. Badenoch, had to retract her statements regarding what she termed "excessive" maternity pay and the imprisonment of civil servants.

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A representative from her campaign emphasized that with the decline in Mr. Jenrick's popularity, it's essential for the party's conservative faction to unite behind Kemi. They highlighted her ability to bridge divisions within the party, her charismatic appeal that resonates well against competitors, and her undeniable popularity among party members as the preferred choice for leader.

The campaign team for Mr. Jenrick stated that the ex-immigration minister, who is advocating for an exit from the European Convention on Human Rights, is "ideally placed to be among the last two contenders."

According to a source, "Lawmakers are looking for seriousness and competence, which explains why he has garnered backing from various factions within the party, ranging from Danny Kruger on the right to Vicky Atkins on the left."

Surveys indicate that among Conservative party members, Ms. Badenoch is more favored than Mr. Jenrick and Mr. Cleverly, although the difference has lessened following the party conference.

On November 2, regardless of who claims victory, the winner will confront the challenge of reassembling the party following their unprecedented defeat in the general election, which relegated them to the opposition benches for the first time in over a decade.

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