The Tory leadership contest took a surprising turn when James Cleverly made a last-minute attempt to prevent his supporters from manipulating the election in his favor, fearing it could backfire. Despite initially leading a poll of MPs, Cleverly unexpectedly lost support in the final ballot, with Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick emerging as the frontrunners. Cleverly’s team urged MPs to vote tactically rather than strategically, but some still chose the latter.
The split within the party escalated tensions, with concerns that neither final candidate could unite the party or the country. The Liberal Democrats are already strategizing to capitalize on the division, preparing attack ads highlighting controversial statements from the final two candidates, Badenoch and Jenrick. There are fears that a move to the right under a new leader could lead the Tories into the political wilderness.
Now, Tory members will decide who will succeed Rishi Sunak as leader. With Badenoch seemingly popular among members, the outcome remains uncertain. The chaotic leadership contest underscores the party’s internal turmoil and potential alienation of key voter demographics.
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