The Conservative Party’s leadership election is heating up, with former Home Secretary James Cleverly emerging as the frontrunner. The other candidates vying for the top spot are Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. The final round of voting, expected to take place on November 2nd, will likely pit Cleverly against the survivor from the duel between Badenoch and Jenrick.
In the most recent round of voting, Cleverly secured 39 votes, surpassing Jenrick’s 30 and Badenoch’s 29. This success pushed Tom Tugendhat out of the race after he received only 20 votes. The winner of the leadership contest will automatically become the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, a position held by the leader of the largest party not in government.
Cleverly’s centrist approach has made him a strong contender. The Guardian has pointed out that he is well-positioned to win, potentially drawing support from the ousted Tugendhat. Cleverly’s momentum was further bolstered by his strong performance at the recent party conference. He excelled in question-and-answer sessions and speeches, outshining his rivals. Additionally, Mel Stride, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, threw his weight behind Cleverly after his own elimination from the race.
The Conservatives, after holding power for 14 years, faced a resounding defeat in the recent election. The Labour Party triumphed, capitalizing on anti-incumbency sentiment. Compounding the Conservatives’ woes, Nigel Farage’s Reform Party attracted a significant number of right-wing Conservative voters. While Farage didn’t secure many seats, his presence fractured the non-Labour vote, ultimately contributing to the Labour Party’s victory. Although Labour only received 1.5% more votes than in the 2019 election, their seat count increased by a staggering 211 seats.
