Priti Patel Exits Tory Leadership Contest After Initial Vote, Field Narrows in Search for Sunak’s Successor

Priti Patel Exits Conservative Leadership Contest Following Initial Ballot

The ex-Home Secretary garnered just 14 votes as MPs continue to whittle down candidates to replace Rishi Sunak.

Political journalist @NifS

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 8:

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In the initial round of voting, Tory leadership contender Dame Priti Patel has been eliminated from the competition by her fellow party members in Parliament.

The ex-interior minister was in the race with five other contenders to succeed Rishi Sunak, but was eliminated in the initial round, finishing last in the voting.

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Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick led the voting with 28 votes, while the previously favored Kemi Badenoch received 22 votes.

Former Home Secretary James Cleverly garnered 21 votes, while former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat secured 17 votes, and the most recent Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride received 16. Dame Priti Patel collected a total of 14 votes.

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Out of a possible 121 votes, 118 were counted, indicating that three Conservative MPs were absent from voting, one of whom was Mr. Sunak, according to information obtained by Sky News.

However, there remains some distance to cover before a new opposition leader is officially appointed.

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Tom Tugendhat issued an apology for the 'disrespect and double standards' demonstrated by former Conservative administrations.

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Next Tuesday, another round of voting is scheduled to narrow the candidates to four, who will subsequently participate in a live debate at the Conservative Party conference later this month.

Following a series of votes by Members of Parliament, the final two candidates will be presented to the entire party base for a leadership selection. The outcome is anticipated to be declared on November 2.

On X, late Wednesday, Dame Priti expressed her gratitude to her party members for their backing throughout her campaign and urged her fellow candidates to acknowledge that they are "the heart and soul of our party" in a statement she posted.

She emphasized: "In order to regain the confidence of the British public, we need to rally behind our Conservative principles and demonstrate how they provide answers to the problems confronting our nation."

After the results were announced, Ms. Badenoch took to X to express her gratitude towards her supporters, stating, "We need to confront difficult realities today to avoid larger issues in the future."

"I am eager to travel across the nation, collaborating with colleagues and members to advocate for renewal."

In his remarks, Mr. Tugendhat expressed admiration for his "friend Priti" and the "good Conservatives" he is currently contending with.

However, he emphasized, "I alone am capable of leading the Conservative transformation that both our party and our country require."

"I promise to guide our opposition with the same dedication and principles I would bring as prime minister, by dedicating myself to the service of the British public, leading with decisiveness, and striving to improve our country. You can count on me to keep this promise."

Mr. Stride expressed his pleasure at advancing to the following round, stating, "Everything is still up for grabs, and it's evident where the 'Melmentum' is headed! I am committed to reinstating trust and proficiency, and to guiding us back into power."

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Dame Priti has served as a Conservative Member of Parliament since 2010 and was the most seasoned of the nominees listed for election.

She emerged as an influential figure for conservatives during her tenure as home secretary in Boris Johnson's administration, but her prominence was later overshadowed by Suella Braverman, who succeeded her in the role.

She had cast herself as a unifier in the contest, contending that the party must avoid becoming embroiled in "a melodrama of blame and narcissism," which could divert focus from securing victory in the upcoming election.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party remarked: "The Conservative Party has effectively narrowed down their list of candidates from six individuals, all of whom contributed to 14 years of turmoil and deterioration, to five individuals who have done the same.

Based on our observations, none of them seem willing to take heed of historical lessons.

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