Robert Jenrick remains frontrunner in Tory leadership race as Mel Stride knocked out

Four candidates left in the race

ROBERT Jenrick held on to his spot as frontrunner in the Tory leadership race, picking up 33 votes, while Kemi Badenoch closely followed with 28 votes. The latest round saw former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride being knocked out of the race, leaving James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat in the running with 21 votes each.

'Beauty contest' at Tory party conference

The final four candidates will now face a 'beauty contest' at the upcoming Tory party conference in Birmingham. Each candidate will have 20 minutes to pitch themselves to card-carrying Conservatives. Following this, two more candidates will be eliminated by MPs, leaving the final two to campaign around the country before the votes are cast.

Reactions from the candidates

Responding to the results, Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Kemi Badenoch expressed gratitude for being in the top two and winning the most new votes in this round. She emphasized the need for a leader who can effectively oppose and defeat rival parties, highlighting the importance of conviction and knowledge in reshaping the political landscape.

A Labour spokesperson criticized the Tory candidates, stating that the remaining contenders have all played significant roles in the chaos and decline of the past 14 years. The failure to acknowledge responsibility for past mistakes led to doubts about their suitability for the leadership role.