James Cleverly leads Tory race after impactful conference speech
Cleverly gains support, Badenoch rallies right, Jenrick loses momentum in Tory race
James Cleverly has surged ahead in the Tory leadership contest, benefiting from a well-crafted, uplifting conference speech that resonated with the party. His pitch from the Tory centre appears to be attracting broad support. Hopes from rivals that the conference would have little impact have not materialised.
However, this does not guarantee victory. With one more knockout round before the 170,000 members cast their votes, the results and briefings provide some clues about the next steps. Today revealed three key points as the remaining candidates strive to reach the final two.
Firstly, Kemi Badenoch is targeting the Tory right. She has made minimal efforts to appeal to Tom Tugendhat’s supporters, who are mainly one-nation Conservatives. In a statement tonight, she called for the Conservative right to unite around her, indicating she is trying to gain support from Robert Jenrick’s backers, despite falling behind him today. This is a bold move, especially as some ERG members fell out with her during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as prime minister.
Tory leadership result
James Cleverly: 39 (+18)
Robert Jenrick: 31 (-2)
Kemi Badenoch: 30 (+2)
Tom Tugendhat: 20 (-1)Tom Tugendhat has been eliminated.
Big swing to Cleverly.
— Marwan🇲🇦🇬🇧 (@MarwanData) October 8, 2024
Secondly, Robert Jenrick is losing momentum. His support dropped from 33 MP votes in the last round to 31 votes today. Jenrick supporters had expected him to secure 35-40 votes, suggesting he has underperformed. His conference speech was less well-received, which has damaged his standing among MPs.
Lastly, James Cleverly is leading and may consider engineering Jenrick as his opponent in the final round. A YouGov poll of Tory members before the conference speeches showed Jenrick only four points ahead of Cleverly, with Badenoch further in front. Given the narrow margins between second and third place, Cleverly might “lend” votes to ensure an easier opponent makes it to the final round.
YouGov polling indicated that today, Tory MPs eliminated the most popular contender among the general public, Tom Tugendhat. Cleverly and Jenrick are tied, with Badenoch being the least popular. Tory members prioritise “integrity and honesty” and “conservative values” in a leader. Only 2% prioritised “winning the election.” This highlights the uncertainty of the outcome, despite the current momentum.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Sky News reports that James Cleverly is gaining momentum in the latest round of the Tory leadership contest, but the final result remains uncertain.(read more)
- The Guardian reports that Tom Tugendhat is knocked out of the Tory leadership race after securing only 20 votes, with James Cleverly emerging as the frontrunner, alongside Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is leading the Tory leadership contest right now?
James Cleverly is currently leading the Tory leadership contest.
What strategy is Kemi Badenoch using in the Tory leadership contest?
Kemi Badenoch is pitching to the Tory right, aiming to attract Robert Jenrick’s supporters.
How is Robert Jenrick performing in the Tory leadership contest?
Robert Jenrick is losing momentum, dropping from 33 MP votes to 31 votes.
What qualities do Tory members want in a leader?
Tory members want a leader with integrity and honesty, followed by conservative values.
Could James Cleverly try to influence the final round by lending votes?
Yes, Cleverly might consider lending votes to engineer an easier opponent in the final round.
