Deadline day for UK Conservative leader race: Who is standing to replace Rishi Sunak?

The candidates hoping to replace Rishi Sunak as UK Conservative leaderThe candidates hoping to replace Rishi Sunak as UK Conservative leader
The candidates hoping to replace Rishi Sunak as UK Conservative leader | National World
As the deadline for nomination looms, we take a look at all the candidates for UK Conservative leader

Those vying to replace Rishi Sunak as UK Conservative leader only have a few hours left to declare themselves.

In what is shaping up to be a crowded contest, the deadline for nominations is 2.30pm on Monday 29 July.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Each candidate needs the backing of at least 10 MPs - however, it will be November until his successor is crowned.

The list of candidates will be reduced down to four in early September ahead of the party conference at the end of the month.

It will then be whittled down to just two, with the ballot closing at 5pm on October 31 - the winner will then be announced on November 2.

So who is standing in this election to become the leader of the official opposition in the House of Commons?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

James Cleverly

James Cleverly has announced his candidacy to succeed Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leaderJames Cleverly has announced his candidacy to succeed Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader
James Cleverly has announced his candidacy to succeed Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader | Getty

James Cleverly was the first to announce their intention to run in this race.

He has held numerous top jobs in government over recent years, including home secretary, foreign secretary and education secretary.

Mr Cleverley has also been Europe and North America minister, and Middle East, North Africa and North America minister in the Foreign Office, minister without portfolio, and Brexit parliamentary under-secretary. 

He was first elected as the MP for Braintree in 2015.

Outside of politics he served in the Territorial Army and worked in magazine and digital publishing.

The bookies have him on as 5/1 to win the race.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat. Image: James Mitchinson/Press Association.Tom Tugendhat. Image: James Mitchinson/Press Association.
Tom Tugendhat. Image: James Mitchinson/Press Association.

Tom Tugendhat’s previous jobs in politics include security minister and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Westminster.

He has a lot of experience of working in the Middle East - before entering politics he served in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked in the Foreign Office in Afghanistan, and was an adviser to the chief of defence staff in the British Army.

Mr Tugendhat also worked as a journalist in Beirut, learned to speak Arabic in Yemen, and has a degree in Islamic studies from Cambridge. 

He has been the MP for Tonbridge and Malling since 2015, and the bookies’ odds for him are 7/2. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mel Stride

Mel Stride.Mel Stride.
Mel Stride.

Mel Stride is the former work and pensions secretary, but has held a number of other government positions.

These include lord president of the council, leader of the House of Commons, financial secretary to the Treasury and paymaster general, parliamentary under-secretary for education, assistant government whip, and government whip.

He was educated at Oxford and has been the MP for Central Devon since 2010.

The bookies’ odds for Mr Stride are not so favourable, at 20/1.

Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick. Image: Press Association.Robert Jenrick. Image: Press Association.
Robert Jenrick. Image: Press Association.

Robert Jenrick is the former immigration minister.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He’s held a number of other government positions since being elected as the MP for Newark in 2014, including housing secretary, health minister and Treasury exchequer secretary.

Prior to going into politics, he studied at Cambridge and was a corporate lawyer in London and Moscow.

The bookies’ odds for Mr Jenrick are 5/2.

Dame Priti Patel

Dame Priti Patel. Image: Carl Court/Getty Images.Dame Priti Patel. Image: Carl Court/Getty Images.
Dame Priti Patel. Image: Carl Court/Getty Images. | Getty Images

Priti Patel is the former home secretary, having also been international development secretary, employment minister and Treasury exchequer secretary.

Her parents are Gujarati Indians who fled to the UK from Uganda, and Ms Patel became the first ever UK Indian diaspora champion.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She received a knighthood in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours and has been the MP for Witham since 2010.

The bookies’ odds for her are 8/1.

Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch is the bookies’ favourite with odds of 7/4 to win.

Kemi Badenoch is widely expected to run for leader.Kemi Badenoch is widely expected to run for leader.
Kemi Badenoch is widely expected to run for leader.

She announced her intention to stand late on Sunday night.

Ms Badenoch has been the MP for North West Essex since 2017, and has held numerous government roles including business secretary, international trade secretary and women and equalities secretary.

She is also the former vice-chair of the Conservative Party and prior to becoming an MP was a member of the London Assembly.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice