Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick may have stolen the headlines, but James Cleverly is the one to watch

During a late-night gathering this week, a prominent Conservative pulled out his imaginary sorting hat and categorized the Tory leadership hopefuls into the different Hogwarts Houses.

A former minister familiar with all of them has categorized Kemi Badenoch as belonging to Gryffindor for her bravery, Robert Jenrick as Slytherin for his ambition, James Cleverly as a loyal Hufflepuff, and Tom Tugendhat as a Ravenclaw for his intelligence.

It was enjoyable, yet it conveyed a more serious message.

Mr. Jenrick, who used to position himself as a centrist, skillfully navigated his way past other right-wing candidates like Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, emerging as the leading contender in this competition, thanks to his ambition and strategic thinking.

Kemi Badenoch, known for her willingness to tackle difficult issues and speak bluntly, has garnered a lot of support within the party for her straightforward approach. Both she and her opponent entered the party conference as the leading contenders in the competition.

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This week, Mr. Cleverly has really stood out with his emphasis on loyalty, commitment, and camaraderie within the party. During his "fireside chat" with Christopher Hope from GB News, he captivated the audience and received a standing ovation. He followed that up with a confident performance on the main stage, making a strong impression in this political showcase.

The ex-cabinet minister arrived at the conference lagging behind the two leading candidates, including Tom Tugendhat. However, he departs with some increased support, as betting odds now place him as the second favorite, following Mr. Jenrick, in the race for leadership, while Ms. Badenoch has fallen to third.

His team, along with him, is obviously quite happy with how the week has unfolded. "We understood that we had a task to accomplish, and we carried it out successfully. Everything went just as we had intended."

It's uncertain if he'll reach the final two; the competition remains wide open. There's a chance that Mr. Jenrick, Ms. Badenoch, or Mr. Cleverly could take the lead instead.

It seems that Mr. Tugendhat may face rejection from MPs in the upcoming vote on October 9, given the lukewarm response he received during his presentation. However, the situation remains open for the other three candidates.

Despite the cleverness and bravery of his competitors, Mr. Cleverly has improved his prospects by urging the party to return to a more "normal" approach and emphasizing his background and experience.

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"This isn't the right moment for someone new to the field. My motivation isn't about ambitions or titles; it's about taking action and making a difference." His message was classic Conservative - advocating for reduced taxes, increased military funding, and less bureaucracy. He spoke in a warm, upbeat, and engaging manner.

Mr. Jenrick, who has focused on addressing migration issues and withdrawing from the ECHR, had been leading in the initial two rounds with MPs. However, his speech lacked energy, as he spoke without notes or a teleprompter. Although he entered the conference in a strong position, he was unable to secure a victory.

Ms. Badenoch vowed to "speak honestly about our party, our political beliefs, and our future" and indicated that she would begin with "fundamental ideas" to break down the "system of growing social, economic, and legal control established by Blair and Brown."

Check out more: Badenoch makes a 'joke' about civil servants being in a 'jail'; Jenrick is very close to Badenoch, according to a survey.

Following a tumultuous week filled with debates over her comments on topics like maternity pay, minimum wage, and her statement about civil servants needing to be "locked up," she can at least take pride in her presentation on stage.

While there hasn't been a major turning point at the conference this week, Mr. Cleverly has definitely navigated the situation skillfully and positioned himself as a serious contender in this race.

It is now in the hands of Members of Parliament to determine if the former foreign secretary will advance to the final two candidates. However, he has shown that ambition, bravery, and cleverness aren’t the only ways to achieve success.

This week has also shown us just how enormous the challenge will be for whoever emerges victorious to rebuild the party after experiencing its most significant election loss in recent memory.