The race to replace former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak heats up as three contenders remain in the leadership contest.
In a surprising turn of events, Conservative lawmakers in Britain have eliminated former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat from the party leadership competition, leaving only three candidates vying for the top spot after a devastating election defeat in July.
Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emerged as the frontrunner with 39 votes, followed closely by former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick with 31 votes and ex-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch with 30.
The contest, which is set to conclude on November 2, will see one more candidate ousted by legislators before the final decision is left to the party members. Cleverly’s momentum has been on the rise, positioning him as a centrist option to lead the Conservatives back to power. Jenrick, known for his hardline stance on immigration, and Badenoch, a vocal advocate for change within the government system, bring contrasting visions for the future of the party.
With the leadership contest reaching a critical point, all eyes are on the remaining candidates as they battle to restore the Conservative Party’s reputation and appeal to voters ahead of the next general election.