Sir John Hayes backs Robert Jenrick over Suella Braverman
Suella Braverman's chances of leading the Tory party took a hit as her longtime supporter, Sir John Hayes, shifts his allegiance to Robert Jenrick. Despite being a mentor to Braverman and leading her previous leadership campaign, Hayes is now supporting Jenrick in the race for the top spot in the Conservative party.
Robert Jenrick emerges as front runner with hard-line stance
Robert Jenrick is gaining ground as a leading candidate from the right wing of the Conservative party, positioning himself as a tough advocate on migration issues. This shift comes as a surprise, considering Jenrick was once a supporter of Rishi Sunak, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Braverman's criticisms of Jenrick and the current state of the party
Suella Braverman didn't hold back in her critique of Robert Jenrick, labeling him as coming "from the Left of the party" and highlighting his past support for Remain and centrist policies. She also blamed the party's failure to address illegal immigration and what she referred to as the "lunatic woke virus" for their recent election defeat.
Challenges within the Conservative party
The race for leadership is heating up within the Conservative party, with contenders like Priti Patel vying for the top position. Braverman's bold remarks at recent events have underscored the divisions within the party, especially on issues like immigration and social issues.
Next steps in the leadership race
Tory backbenchers have taken steps to organize the process for electing a new leader, including appointing a new leader for the 1922 Committee. The outcome of these internal discussions will be revealed soon, shedding light on the path ahead for the Conservative party.
