Six British lawmakers have thrown their hats into the ring to lead the defeated Conservative Party, with a Monday deadline looming. The outcome of this contest will determine whether the party shifts towards the right or steers towards the political center ground.
The contenders include former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and lawmaker Tom Tugendhat from the party's centrist grouping. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel and ex-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch have garnered support from the right wing of the party. Additionally, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and lawmaker Mel Stride have secured the necessary backing of 10 Conservative lawmakers before the Monday deadline.
Badenoch, who finished third in the party's last leadership election in 2022, is an early favorite with bookmakers. She advocates for leading a 'renewal for capitalism' centered around a smaller state and aims to convince voters of the importance of conservatism.
Following the party's recent election defeat, which saw votes lost to both right and left-wing parties, the Conservatives find themselves divided between moderates seeking to win back centrist voters and hard-liners pushing for tougher migration and law and order policies to reclaim lost political ground.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a prominent figure on the party's right, announced she would not be running. Braverman has urged the party to engage with the Reform party and welcome Nigel Farage into Conservative ranks.
The Conservatives suffered a significant blow in the July 4 election, resulting in a Labour landslide victory and the end of their 14-year reign under five prime ministers. With only 121 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, this marked their worst-ever electoral performance.
The contest to replace former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to last over three months, with Sunak remaining as acting leader until his successor is revealed on Nov. 2. Conservative lawmakers will gradually narrow down the field through a series of votes, ultimately leading to an online vote by party members across the country to select the new leader.
In the previous contested leadership selection in mid-2022, Liz Truss was chosen over Sunak but resigned after 49 days due to the backlash from her tax-cutting proposals. Sunak was then elected to replace her, marking a turbulent period for the party.
