Tom Tugendhat Enters the Fray: The Race for Conservative Leadership Intensifies

Tom Tugendhat has entered the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak as the leader of the Conservative Party. Following James Cleverly's announcement, he is the second Conservative MP to officially announce his bid, with five more reportedly preparing to enter the race.

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Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 12

Ex-security chief Tom Tugendhat has entered the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak as the future head of the Conservative Party.

He has become the second individual to officially enter the contest, following the announcement of his candidacy by shadow home secretary James Cleverly the day before.

This evening marked the opening of nominations for the competition, with Mr. Tugendhat, Mr. Cleverly, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Kemi Badenoch, and Robert Jenrick reportedly having collected the necessary documents to enter the race.

In 2022, Mr. Tugendhat entered the leadership race and, although he did not win, he was appointed to a cabinet position as a recognition of his efforts.

The ongoing competition is set to conclude at the start of November.

Formerly leading the foreign affairs select committee, the ex-military personnel is recognized for his firm stance on China and Iran.

In an article for The Telegraph, the MP for Tonbridge expressed his readiness to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Discussing the reasons behind the Conservative Party's defeat in the recent election, Mr. Tugendhat stated: "Intelligent individuals have penned countless intricate explanations for our loss, but I can summarize it in a single word: trust."

"The British public lost faith in us due to our failure to deliver on our promises."

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Discover more: Top contender for Tory leadership identified in survey. Who might succeed Sunak as the leader of the Conservatives?

He noted that the public was seeking the fulfillment of prior commitments made by the party, specifically: reduced taxes, decreased immigration, and greater autonomy in their daily lives.

Yet the previous administration "simply failed to meet expectations."

He stated that the ongoing leadership contest would not cause division within the party, as there is consensus on multiple issues: "The ECHR, gender issues, taxation levels, defense expenditure, and net zero commitments."

Mr. Tugendhat stated: "It's clear that if institutions fail to benefit the British public and complicate the management of our borders, we must either withdraw from them or step outside their authority."

It's clear to us what defines a woman. Everyone desires reduced tax rates. It's universally acknowledged that the safety of our nation takes precedence over financial details.

"It's widely understood that the priority lies with ensuring energy security and managing residential expenses."

He stated that if he wins the election, his goal is to surpass the Labour Party in the upcoming general election and assume the role of prime minister.

"Why am I suitable for this position? I adhere to a straightforward principle: if I commit to a task, I ensure it's completed," he explained.

"I pledged my allegiance to serve the monarchy and the nation, hence I battled our adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, I continued the fight against them in a governmental role as the security minister under two Conservative leaders."

"I may not have come out on top in every debate back then, but I succeeded in the crucial battle of protecting our nation from terrorism. I pledged to confront authoritarian regimes, which is why I've been sanctioned, cyber-attacked, and singled out by China's Communist government."

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In politics, as in everyday life, the fundamental principle is to fulfill your commitments. When the Conservative Party adheres to this, it is successful.

"The Conservative Party is capable of securing a victory in the upcoming election. Believe me, I will ensure it occurs."

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