The Conservative Party is expected to reveal the successor to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as its new leader this morning.
Following the emergence of six candidates in July, only two contenders remain: Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
Members of the party have had 16 days to submit their votes online while the candidates campaigned throughout the country.
James Cleverly became the fourth candidate to be eliminated from the race on October 9, following the exits of Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat.
The Shadow Home Secretary had been the frontrunner to secure a place in the final two candidates after topping the previous round of voting just a day earlier.
So, who are the two remaining candidates?
Kemi Badenoch
One of the most notable rising figures within the Conservative Party in recent years, Badenoch (pronounced Bayd-noch) currently holds the position of frontrunner according to the bookmakers.
In her capacity as Business Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, she gained recognition by directly addressing cultural issues, most notably regarding gender.
This is not her first attempt at party leadership; she finished fourth in the July 2022 contest, trailing Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, and the eventual winner Liz Truss.
Interestingly, both Mordaunt and Truss lost their seats in the previous election and Sunak has announced his withdrawal. Could this pave the way for Badenoch to ascend to the leadership role?
A victory for her would signify a triumph for the party’s right wing, but many MPs are confident that she can also resonate with centrist members.
During her launch event, she critiqued the prior government (of which she was a part) by stating that it ‘spoke right but governed left’ on crucial matters like net-zero policies.
Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick, a former Housing Secretary, reportedly spent the days following the General Election connecting with both new and incumbent MPs to position himself as a prospective leadership candidate.
In his subsequent media engagements, he has concentrated on a subject that has largely defined his parliamentary activities since 2022: immigration.
He was appointed Immigration Minister in Rishi Sunak’s inaugural Cabinet after taking over from Liz Truss as Prime Minister and retained this position for over a year.
However, he resigned in December 2023, contending that Sunak’s attempts to address legal complications with the Rwanda scheme were insufficient.
If the Conservative Party concludes that their electoral defeat stemmed from a lack of a stringent immigration policy, Jenrick may emerge as their choice for leader – and he has thus far led both MP votes.
Nonetheless, he has faced numerous controversies in the past, including long drives during the Covid lockdowns and the removal of a Disney-themed mural at a children’s migrant center.
What time will the new Tory leader be revealed?
The announcement of the new Conservative leader is anticipated around 11am today, though it could occur at any point this morning.
Sunak will subsequently formally resign.
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