In the intense hours leading up to the final ballot for the Conservative Party leadership, the candidates are vying for the support of MPs. Former Home Secretary James Cleverly appears to be a strong contender to secure a spot in the final two candidates, having received the highest number of votes in Tuesday’s third round ballot with 39 votes.
Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are in a tight competition to clinch the remaining spot in the final stage of the Conservative leadership election. Mr. Jenrick currently holds 31 votes, with Ms. Badenoch closely behind at 30 votes. Both candidates are considered potential representatives of the right-wing faction of the Conservative party, and with only one of them likely to advance to the final round, they are racing against time to garner more support from their parliamentary colleagues before the crucial vote on Wednesday.
In the latest ballot, Ms. Badenoch gained two votes while Mr. Jenrick lost two compared to the previous round held before the party conference. Following the results, Ms. Badenoch’s campaign urged the Tory right wing to rally around the former business secretary, while sources within Mr. Jenrick’s camp expressed confidence in his chances of making it to the final two candidates.
The outcome of Wednesday’s vote may hinge on the 20 MPs who previously backed eliminated candidate Tom Tugendhat and how they choose to cast their votes. Notably, Nick Timothy, a former adviser to ex-Prime Minister Theresa May and a supporter of Mr. Tugendhat, has already declared his backing for Mr. Jenrick, praising his readiness to critically evaluate the party’s past failures and future prospects.
The final result of Wednesday’s vote is anticipated to be announced around 3.30pm. Following the selection of the final two candidates, Conservative Party members will decide the new party leader, with the announcement scheduled for November 2nd.