The race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader is unofficially under way in the wake of the Conservative Party’s wipeout at the general election.
With some frontrunners casting the contest as a battle for the soul of the Conservative Party - after Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK inflicted losses for the Tories in scores of seats - ex-minister Kevin Hollinrake is among those to suggest the race could last until the end of the year, adding: “I don’t think there is any rush”.
While no candidate has yet formally launched a bid, Suella Braverman’s hopes were dealt an early blow, as one source described the twice-sacked home secretary’s campaign to The Times as “dead before it even started”, accusing her of “going too hard, too soon”.
It came as multiple reports suggested right-wing MP Danny Kruger would support Robert Jenrick, further diminishing Ms Braverman’s hopes of being the flagbearer of the Tory right.
Other possible Tory leadership race contenders on the party’s right include Kemi Badenoch and Priti Patel, while James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.
Key Points
- Suella Braverman’s Tory leadership bid ‘dead before it starts’
- Contest could drag on until end of the year, ex-minister says
- Runners and riders: Who will vie to replace Rishi Sunak?
Former Tory minister Damian warns lurch to the right is ‘weapons-grade idiocy'
Monday 8 July 2024 17:21
Andy Gregory
Seeking to drag the Tory party further to the right is “weapons-grade idiocy”, a former minister has suggested.
Writing for the Observer, Damian Green – who lost his seat in Kent on Thursday – said: “Saying to millions of potential Conservative voters that they are not Conservative enough is weapons-grade idiocy in a first-past-the-post electoral system.
“If the Conservative party starts becoming ideologically exclusive it will wither and die.”
How does the Tory leadership contest work?
Monday 8 July 2024 16:28
Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
Under the current rules, the party’s remaining rump of MPs get to decide which of the eventual leadership candidates will make it to the final two.
At that stage more than 100,000 local party members then make their choice and crown the winner.
The first stage of the process will give enormous power to the MPs who have survived the cull.
But who will they plump for? The right of the party accuses Rishi Sunak’s No 10 of trying to rig the vote on his successor by parachuting candidates from the centrist wing into what should be safer seats.
On the other hand, their opponents fear the party is about to stage a lurch to the right, which they argue could condemn it to a long time outside government.
The elephant in the room are fears of a takeover by Reform-backing supporters of Farage, or even Mr Farage himself. Many Conservatives harbour barely conceled fury towards the man who cost many Tory MPs their jobs. But there are some in the party who still want to embrace the populist Reform UK leader.
Scottish Tory justice spokesperson signals he could run in leadership race
Monday 8 July 2024 15:31
Andy Gregory
Scottish Tory justice spokesperson Russell Findlay has signalled that he is considering a run at the party leadership north of the border.
Mr Findlay, a former journalist who prior to entering Holyrood was attacked with acid while investigating organised crime in Glasgow, said: “Tories across the UK have taken a beating – although our success in Scotland in holding constituencies shouldn’t be overlooked.
“Everyone should take time to reflect on the message we have been sent.
“Scotland needs to play a big part in rebuilding an election-winning conservative movement and, along with many others, I’ll be taking careful consideration of the new circumstances we are in and of how I can best contribute to that task.”
Jenrick says Tories ‘didn’t do whatever it takes’ on immigration
Monday 8 July 2024 13:59
Andy Gregory
Robert Jenrick appears to agree with Nigel Farage that immigration was at the heart of the Tory defeat – pointing to a surge in support for Reform in most constituencies the Conservatives lost.
The former immigration minister – and likely Tory leadership hopeful – told the BBC on Sunday: “We didn’t have the willingness to take the tough decisions that were necessary to deliver for the British public; when we said, for example, on immigration that we would do whatever it takes, we didn’t do whatever it takes.”
Scottish Tories risk ‘political extinction’ without proper debate on new leader, MSP warns
Monday 8 July 2024 13:30
Andy Gregory
The Scottish Conservatives could face “political extinction” if they do not have a wide debate on the future leadership of the party, a Tory MSP has warned.
Jamie Greene said there should be no “swift return to business as usual” after his party slumped to its lowest-ever vote share at a general election, returning five MPs north of the border – with current leader Douglas Ross due to stand down after losing his Westminster bid.
However, the contest to replace him will not begin until at least next week as the party’s management board will meet at the weekend to decide on the timeline.
Writing in The Times, Mr Greene said: “Is the Scottish Conservative party leadership hoping for a conveniently short contest, with high barriers to entry, to appoint its preferred candidate?
“Or is it willing to have a real and meaningful conversation about what sort of party they want any new leader to lead? I suspect some grandees prefer the former; a swift return to business as usual. I, however, and many others, believe the latter is a necessity.
“I’ll say this frankly: the party must do this properly to ensure the widest possible debate, lest we risk political extinction.”
Government still expects challenge in Commons despite heavy Tory defeat, minister says
Monday 8 July 2024 12:02
Andy Gregory
New chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the government will still expect to be challenged in the Commons despite the Tories’ heavy electoral defeat.
He told the BBC: “Of course the Conservatives suffered a historic loss, but that doesn’t mean there’s no opposition in the House of Commons and, of course, we have the House of Lords to get any legislation through as well.
“And the key thing that you’ll see from this Labour government is that we’re going to return both to the service of the British people, but also to the norms. The adults are back in the room.”
Watch: Kwasi Kwarteng refuses to rule out Tory comeback from himself or Liz Truss
Monday 8 July 2024 11:32
Andy Gregory
Tories can win in 2029 with ‘the right leader’, ex-minister insists
Monday 8 July 2024 10:56
Andy Gregory
Conservative former minister Kevin Hollinrake has insisted the Tories can win the 2029 general election if they “get the right leader” – and suggested the contest could kick off in earnest in September.
He told Times Radio: “I would argue we lost it rather than they won it, because look at the percentage share of the vote, no government has ever formed a majority with less than 34% of the vote, it’s quite incredible that’s the case.
“Hats off to them, the winner takes it all, they’ve got the spoils of victory, we need to hold to account for all those things.”
On the timescale for electing a new party leader Mr Hollinrake said: “It should be a few months of a job so we start on that process probably in September and then we elect our leader by the end of the year that’s the kind of timescale I would like.”
He added: “We lost heavily, but as I say not to a popular Labour government. That’s an opportunity for us. If we get the right leader, we regroup, we unite behind that leader, we can win in 2029. That’s got to be our job.”
Politics Explained | Can Farage kill off the Tory party and replace it with Reform UK?
Monday 8 July 2024 10:51
Andy Gregory
The Conservative Party is the oldest and most successful political party in the world. It was in many ways the first modern political party and its history dates back at least 346 years to the foundation of the Tories, and arguably even longer to the Cavaliers who supported King Charles I in the Civil War.
But the party is facing its biggest crisis yet, with its very existence now in question. The rise of Nigel Farage and Reform UK party on the right is the first time a serious alternative in that political space has been presented to British voters.
While some wonder how a party with just five MPs can threaten such a long-established political institution, former home secretary Suella Braverman has warned that the Tory party does not have a right to exist. Her comments are a fair reflection of a turbulent time in politics, both here and overseas.
In an interview with The Independent, Mr Farage made it clear that replacement of the Tories is his plan, rather than seeking to take them over, and Ms Braverman knows this could happen.
Our political editor David Maddox has more:
Runners and riders: Who will vie to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tories?
Monday 8 July 2024 10:31
Andy Gregory
Rishi Sunak has said he will quit as Tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor, triggering a potentially acrimonious contest to replace him.
Following huge losses for the Tories at the general election, a dozen top Cabinet ministers have lost their seats – meaning Penny Mordaunt and other possible runners have been knocked out of the race before it even started.
Here are the key contenders to watch:
Tory leadership race could drag on until end of the year, ex-minister says
Monday 8 July 2024 10:30
Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent
In an indication of how long the contest could drag on, former business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said on Monday a leadership race could last until the end of the year, adding that “I don’t think there is any rush”.
He told the BBC: “In the next few months we need to reflect very carefully on [our loss], I think it will be some time before the end of the year before we put a new leader in place, I don’t think there is any rush.
“I think we need a proper discussion and debate about how the new leader can move towards low migration, lower taxation and tackling some of the political and cultural ideology we are seeing in our society.
“I think if we do all those things, we can present that very cogent challenge to Labour in 2029.”
Braverman’s Tory leadership bid ‘dead before it starts’ as key ally expected to back rival
Monday 8 July 2024 10:28
Andy Gregory
Suella Braverman’s Tory leadership hopes have suffered an early blow as a key backer reportedly prepares to back Robert Jenrick instead.
Although no-one has formally launched a campaign to replace Rishi Sunak, Ms Braverman is expected to be a front runner. However, the former home secretary’s expected campaign has been described as “dead before it has even started” as right-wing MP Danny Kruger is said to support Mr Jenrick instead.
A source told The Times the party’s right wing want “someone with the “policies of Nigel Farage [but] with the presentational skills of David Cameron”. Another said her campaign was “dead before it even started”, accusing Ms Braverman of “going too hard, too soon”.
She had sparked anger on the eve of the general election penning an opinion piece declaring the race over, and urging the Tories to prepare for opposition.
A senior Tory responded to the article by telling The Independent it was a “last throw of the dice” for Ms Braverman, seeking to burnish her diminishing leadership credentials.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Monday 8 July 2024 10:26
Andy Gregory
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog on what could prove to be a lengthy Tory leadership race, where we’ll bring you the latest updates on the contest to replace Rishi Sunak.