Tugendhat knocked out of Tory leadership contest as Cleverly sees campaign boost

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James Cleverly has risen to the forefront of the Tory leadership contest, gaining support from the highest number of Conservative MPs following an impressive showing at the conference.

The ex-home secretary led the third round of voting among Conservative MPs, securing support from a total of 39 members.

It completely changes the dynamics of the competition to replace Rishi Sunak, as Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch now find themselves in a fierce battle for survival. This intense struggle comes right before party members start casting their votes for the final two candidates on Thursday.

The former immigration minister, Mr. Jenrick, who was seen as the leading contender before last week's Conservative conference in Birmingham, came in second place with 31 votes.

The former business secretary, Ms. Badenoch, who is well-liked by the Conservative Party's grassroots members, came in third place with 30 votes.

Mr. Tugendhat, who previously served as a security minister and was a favored candidate among the One Nation group of Conservative MPs, was eliminated from the race after receiving only 20 votes.

The last two candidates will be determined through another vote among MPs this Wednesday. After that, Conservative Party members will vote online from October 10 to 31. The winner of the competition will be revealed on November 2.

The results of the poll on Tuesday will trigger a frantic 24-hour effort for Mr. Jenrick and Ms. Badenoch as they work to secure enough backing to make it into the final two. Currently, there is only a single vote difference between the two right-wing candidates, with one of them poised to face Mr. Cleverly, who is viewed as a moderate and a figure of unity within the party.

It reignited discussions about the underhand tactics used by various factions, as supporters of the competing candidates had accused each other of trying to manipulate the election. Following Tuesday's outcome, a supporter of Mr. Jenrick asserted that his team had backed Mr. Cleverly in an effort to prevent Ms. Badenoch from making it onto the final ballot.

"One or two of our supporters were quite passionate during the campaign to halt Kemi," the ally mentioned.

A representative from Mr. Jenrick’s campaign mentioned that he is “well-placed to be among the top two candidates. Members of Parliament are looking for someone who is serious and capable. This is why he has garnered support from various factions within the party, ranging from Danny Kruger on the right to Vicky Atkins on the left.”

A representative for Ms. Badenoch's campaign commented, "Only three candidates remain in this race. Two are attracting votes, while one is losing ground and support. It's crucial for the Conservative Party's right wing to rally around Kemi, who has the ability to bring the party together, possesses the charisma to stand out in opposition, and is undeniably the preferred choice of the members for leader."

This follows Mr. Cleverly's emergence as a contender in the competition after the party's annual event in Birmingham. On the last day of the conference, he captivated party members with a speech that earned the most enthusiastic applause in the auditorium.

The impressive shift in support led to him nearly doubling his backing from MPs, increasing from 21 votes in the previous round to 39. Mr. Jenrick received two fewer votes, ending up with 31, while Ms. Badenoch only gained two more supporters, finishing with 30 votes.

The outcome also indicates that Mr. Cleverly was not influenced by the controversy surrounding Sir Keir Starmer's choice to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This agreement aims to ensure the ongoing operation of a classified military facility on Diego Garcia, but it has resulted in the UK losing its territorial authority over an area that is vital for Western security in the Indian Ocean.

Mr. Cleverly criticized the decision as "feeble, feeble, feeble," only for it to be revealed that he had initiated discussions about transferring the islands during his time as foreign secretary.

In reaction to the outcome, Mr. Cleverly expressed his appreciation for the backing he received from his colleagues and shared his happiness at advancing to the next stage. He emphasized that there is still work to be done and expressed enthusiasm for continuing to promote the uplifting message of the Conservative party.

Mr. Tugendhat expressed his gratitude to his supporters following Tuesday's vote. In a message shared on X, he stated, "I appreciate everyone who supported our campaign – thank you!"

"Your enthusiasm, your thoughts, and your encouragement have painted a picture of what our party can achieve. While our campaign has concluded, our dedication to our nation remains strong."