Priti Patel to run for Tory leadership, sources say

Today, at 1:45 PM on July 17th, 2024,

Priti Patel, who used to be in charge of the home department, has said she wants to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Sources indicate that Patel was encouraged by other Members of Parliament to enter the race, and it is anticipated that an official statement will be made next week.

Following his defeat to the Labour party in the General Election on July 4th, Rishi Sunak decided to step down from the Tory party leadership.

53-year-old Patel is set to enter the race for the leadership of the Tory party, alongside Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, and Suella Braveman.

Some believe that Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly and former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick are getting ready to make offers as well.

As of now, no candidate has publicly announced their intention to run for the Tory leadership.

Patel reportedly put together a group of supporters for her election campaign, with funding from Conservative contributors. This team includes staff from the Conservative campaign headquarters and former advisors.

Patel is participating in a Tory leadership contest for the first time.

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An insider shared with the Telegraph, who was the first to break the news: "Priti has been keeping a low profile and focusing on supporting her colleagues. She believes that everyone needs some time to process the outcomes of the general election and doesn't want any showboating from potential candidates in the media."

She has assembled a team in secret, as numerous colleagues from various parts of the party have been encouraging her to enter the race. She currently has essential backing from MPs and campaign personnel, including influential donors within the Conservative party.

A senior member of the Conservative party has recommended that Sunak continue in his role as party leader until November, as there are disagreements within the party about the timing of the replacement contest.

The opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, Andrew Mitchell, expressed his understanding of Mr. Sunak's hesitancy but disagreed with the suggestion of appointing a temporary leader. He believes it's better to take a patient approach and wait for the right time to make a decision.

He suggested that the Conservatives should now take a more subdued approach following their heavy defeat in the General Election. He recommended using the upcoming party conference, beginning on September 29th, as an opportunity to highlight potential candidates.

Mr Sunak announced that he will resign as the leader of the Tory party once the necessary procedures for selecting his replacement have been finalized.