Tory Leadership Race Update: Priti Patel Ousted, Robert Jenrick Takes Lead

Robert Jenrick Surges Ahead

Robert Jenrick has taken the lead in the Tory leadership race, garnering 28 votes, while Kemi Badenoch closely follows with 22 votes. This development has pushed ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel out of the race, as she only secured 14 votes.

Contestants and Voting

Tom Tugendhat received 17 votes, with Mel Stride winning over 16 MPs. The candidates Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Priti Patel, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat have been actively seeking support from MPs in recent weeks.

Next Steps in the Leadership Race

Today, Tory MPs cast their votes for the next leader following Rishi Sunak's decision to step down. As the party aims to recover from a previous election setback, where they secured only 121 MPs, four candidates will participate in a 'beauty contest' at the upcoming Tory party conference in Birmingham.

This event will provide an opportunity for the candidates to address party members directly before two more contenders are eliminated by MPs. The final two candidates will then engage in a country-wide campaign to sway members before the voting process.

Timeline for Leadership Transition

There is a sense of urgency among Tory MPs to have a new leader in place before the November announcement, particularly to address the upcoming Budget on October 30. The expectation is for the new Tory leader to be prepared to respond effectively to key national issues.