The Conservative Party will appoint a new leader on November 2 to replace Rishi Sunak.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has become the first Tory MP to declare he will run for the leadership.
There will potentially be a crowded field in the race and Mr Cleverly has told The Telegraph the party must “ditch the self-indulgent infighting” and be ready for the next general election.
The 1922 Committee of backbenchers has agreed the rules and timeline for the leadership contest.
Mr Sunak will stay acting leader until a successor is appointed, and urged for “a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition”.
Nominations will kick off on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on 29 July. Each candidate will need a proposer, seconder and eight nominations to qualify.
Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, and Priti Patel, the ex-home secretary, are likely to represent the right of the party in the contest.
Tom Tugendhat and ex-work and pensions secretary Mel Stride are expected to run as centrist candidates.
Another possible Tory leadership race contender on the party’s right is Kemi Badenoch, while Jeremy Hunt and Victoria Atkins are among more moderate figures who could launch bids.
Key Points
- New Conservative leader to be named on 2 November, party announces
- Cleverly not ruling out running as the next Tory leader
- Priti Patel ‘to run’ in leadership race
- 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?
Seven Labour MPs suspended after rebelling on two-child benefit cap
Tuesday 23 July 2024 21:00
Barney Davis
The seven Labour MPs who defied the Government by backing an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap have lost the whip.
Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey, John McDonnell and Zarah Sultana have been suspended from the parliamentary party for six months, after which their position will be reviewed.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saw off his first Commons rebellion on Tuesday, with the Government comfortably defeating calls to scrap the cap.
But the division list showed seven rebel Labour backbenchers were among those to support the SNP-led amendment.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Sultana said: “I have been informed by the Chief Whip & the Labour Party leadership that the whip has been withdrawn from me for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which would lift 330,000 children out of poverty.
“I will always stand up for the most vulnerable in our society.”
Tory leadership election timeline
Tuesday 23 July 2024 21:00
Jabed Ahmed
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has said he is running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
Tuesday 23 July 2024 20:56
Barney Davis
In a video posted to social media announcing his candidacy, the former foreign and home secretary said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation as the party who, in government, helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams, and their aspirations”.
I’m running to be Conservative Party Leader. Here’s why pic.twitter.com/6eFPMocIyc
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) July 23, 2024
The last Tory leadership election
Tuesday 23 July 2024 20:00
Jabed Ahmed
The last Conservative leadership election came following Liz Truss’ resignation in October 2022.
Ms Truss was elected to replace Boris Johnson, but only lasted six weeks in office after he disastrous mini budget sent economic markets into turmoil.
Two candidates put their name forward: Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak.
Ms Mordaunt withdrew from the contest less than two minutes before the deadline for nominations, leaving Mr Sunak the only candidate in the contest and thus, party leader without a ballot of MPs or party members.
Watch: Cleverly hints he will launch Tory leadership bid
Tuesday 23 July 2024 19:00
Jabed Ahmed
Braverman tells Tories to reject ‘woke nonsense’ ahead of leadership race
Tuesday 23 July 2024 18:00
Jabed Ahmed
Who is running for leadership and what are their odds?
Tuesday 23 July 2024 17:00
Jabed Ahmed
Braverman tells Tories to reject ‘woke nonsense’ ahead of leadership race
Tuesday 23 July 2024 16:00
Jabed Ahmed
Suella Braverman said the Tories must reject “divisive identity politics and woke nonsense” in order to win back Reform voters.
Former home secretary Ms Braverman, who is widely expected to launch a bid to lead the party from the right, used a slot guest-hosting a radio programme to argue that “we had quite a centrist Conservative agenda” and that “identity politics got out of control” under Mr Sunak.
“We need to be a party that’s firm and credible on immigration,” she told LBC listeners.
“We need to give some hope to the British people on taxation, robust on security and defence, and a real champion for common-sense British values. None of this divisive identity politics and woke nonsense. It really frustrates me that that has happened on our watch.”
Home Secretary suggests Tories need to be “bats**t crazy” to run for leader
Tuesday 23 July 2024 15:39
Jabed Ahmed
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the Tory leadership contest is like “a cross between Love Island and the jungle” as she attacked her shadow counterpart James Cleverly.
She told MPs: “The shadow home secretary, I think, has actually spent his entire speech not actually talking about any of the real challenges the country faces, but simply playing to the backbenches of the Conservative Party with a fantasy leadership application speech.
“And what is it about these former home secretaries and former home office ministers? You know, of the last seven home office ministers in cabinet, six of them are apparently running.”
She added: “So, if they are now lining up to do to the Tory Party what they’ve already done to the Home Office and the country, well, frankly, they deserve each other.
“Every one of them championed that policy on Rwanda, that the shadow home secretary, to be fair to him, did notoriously describe as batshit crazy, well, maybe that’s what you need to stand to be the Tory leader right now.”
Ms Cooper went on to say: “We’ve heard today this contest is going to run until November. We’ve got five months of this. We’ve hardly got any Tory MPs here because they’re all off doing their little chats and meetings. It’s like a cross between Love Island and the jungle.”
She added: “Somebody’s had a nervous breakdown and that is probably all of their backbenchers dreading getting a little text saying another candidate is wanting a chat and you can just see it, look at them on there, all of them really saying ‘I’m a Tory MP, get me out of here’.”
Tory leadership timeline
Tuesday 23 July 2024 15:00
Jabed Ahmed
Robert Jenrick: Former immigration minister who quit Sunak’s cabinet
Tuesday 23 July 2024 14:00
Jabed Ahmed
A one-time close ally of Mr Sunak he has also stridently attacked his old friend’s immigration plans in recent months. However, some Tory MPs, on both wings of the party, are wary of his apparent change of heart on the issue.
He was forced to deny he was starting his race when he wrote an opinion piece saying the Conservatives are the “natural home for Reform voters” and that former prime minister Mr Johnson “must always have a place” in the Tories, including in Parliament, should he wish to have one.
Odds: 8/1
Preeti Patel: Former home secretary and Boris Johnson loyalist
Tuesday 23 July 2024 13:00
Jabed Ahmed
The former home secretary is seen as someone who can unite the right of the party and its more moderate ‘One Nation’ members. She is also popular with grassroots Tories and has avoided alienating other MPs, unlike Suella Braverman.
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.
Ms Patel is also a Boris Johnson loyalist, who was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in his resignation honours.
Odds: 13/2
Who is Kemi Badenoch? The frontrunner for Tory leader
Tuesday 23 July 2024 12:00
Jabed Ahmed
Born in Wimbledon, Kemi Badenoch lived in the US and Nigeria as a child before returning to the UK aged 16.
After graduating from the University of Sussex with a master's degree in computer systems engineering, she worked for companies including the Royal Bank of Scotland, private bank Coutts, and the Spectator magazine.
She joined the Conservative Party in 2005, aged 25.
In the 2017 election, she stood in the safe Conservative seat of Saffron Walden in Essex and was elected to Parliament.
Ms Badenoch was a supporter of Brexit. In her maiden Parliament speech, she described the referendum as “the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom”.
She most recently served as Business and Trade Secretary as well as the minister for women and equalities.
Two top Tories back Tom Tugendhat for party leadership
Tuesday 23 July 2024 11:02
Jabed Ahmed
Rishi Sunak to stay on as acting leader until 2 November
Tuesday 23 July 2024 10:35
Jabed Ahmed
Mr Sunak will stay acting leader until a successor is appointed.
He said: “It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition so I will stay in post until November 2, and the result of our leadership election.
“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.
“It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment about the leadership campaign or candidates. I am confident that this timetable decided by the party board and the 1922 Committee will allow for a thoughtful, professional and respectful contest.”
Bob Blackman: Engage in “proper debate, not personal attacks"
Tuesday 23 July 2024 10:15
Jabed Ahmed
Bob Blackman, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, has urged MPs and party members to remain respectful through the leaderdship contest.
He said: “I am determined that our party will have a respectful and thorough leadership debate. I believe that this timetable will allow for this.
“While there are significant debates to be had about our party’s future, we must remember that the country – and our members – want to see us engaged in proper debate, not personal attacks.
“I am confident that this process will allow for this.”
Cleverly warns Tories against factional fighting ahead of leadership race
Tuesday 23 July 2024 10:00
Jabed Ahmed
Robert Jenrick emerges as frontrunner in new poll
Tuesday 23 July 2024 09:45
Jabed Ahmed
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has been chosen as the favourite amongst among party members, according to a new poll.
Mr Jenrick, who quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet over the Rwanda Bill, emerged ahead of Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, Dame Priti Patel and Suella Braverman.
Conservative members were asked in a poll by The Telegraph to rank their top four choices for next leader from a list of candidates who have signalled they will run.
Some 55 per cent of members listed Mr Jenrick as one of their top choices for next leader.
Conduct Tory leadership bid ‘with civility’, Lord Houchen urges Braverman
Tuesday 23 July 2024 09:30
Jabed Ahmed
How does the Tory leadership contest work?
Tuesday 23 July 2024 09:15
Jabed Ahmed
The three month process will begin this week, with the winner announced on 2 November.
Nominations will open on Wednesday and candidates need the the backing of 10 MPs to enter the first round of voting.
MPs will narrow this down to four candidates, who will then have a chance to speak to party members at the Conservative conference which starts on 29 September.
It will then be whittled down to two candidates, with the final winner chosen by Conservative Party members in an online ballot.
Rishi Sunak will remain the acting leader until November.
Who is in the running and what are their odds?
Tuesday 23 July 2024 08:57
Jabed Ahmed
Mel Stride confirms he is considering Tory leadership bid
Tuesday 23 July 2024 08:46
Jabed Ahmed
Cleverly hints he has the backing of enough MPs
Tuesday 23 July 2024 08:35
Jabed Ahmed
James Cleverly has said “there is a reasonable chance” he will throw his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership.
Asked whether he had the backing of 10 MPs, needed to enter the first round of voting, the Conservative frontbencher told Sky News: “I’ve had lots of very kind words from colleagues, both former colleagues and current colleagues.”
After Suella Braverman warned that the party risks becoming “centrist cranks”, Mr Cleverly said: “Trying to carve up and divide up and factionalise … is the wrong way of thinking.”
Cleverly not ruling out running as the next Tory leader
Tuesday 23 July 2024 08:09
Salma Ouaguira
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly has refused to rule out running as the next Tory leader.
The senior Conservative told BBC Breakfast: “That is tomorrow’s work. I am going to talk about Labour’s catastrophic start in the home affairs portfolio.
“The leadership is important but what is actually my job at the moment is holding Labour to account and that is incredibly important because they are dropping the ball and it is being missed because of course there are other events going on, the Conservative leadership contest for example.
“But they are making terrible mistakes and it is not being noticed and it should be noticed because this goes to the heart of the security of our borders and our ability to make sure this country is safe.”
New Conservative leader to be named on 2 November, party announces
Tuesday 23 July 2024 08:00
Salma Ouaguira
The next Conservative leader will be announced on 2 November, the party has said.
The person chosen to replace Rishi Sunak will be named just days before the US presidential election, which is on 5 November.
The 1922 Committee has drawn up a timetable for the contest after the party suffered the worst general election result in its parliamentary history.
Former business secretary Kemi Badenoch and ex-foreign secretary James Cleverly are expected to pitch themselves as candidates aiming to bring the right and centrist wings of the party together after the humiliating defeat on 4 July.
Mr Sunak said: “It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new leader of the opposition, so I will stay in post until November 2nd, and the result of our leadership election.
“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.
“It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment about the leadership campaign or candidates. I am confident that this timetable decided by the party board and the 1922 Committee will allow for a thoughtful, professional and respectful contest.”
Suella Braverman rejects suggestions she will defect to Reform UK
Friday 19 July 2024 20:42
Andy Gregory
Tory leadership hopeful Suella Braverman has rejected suggestions she will likely defect to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK later this year if she loses the contest.
“There’s now so much antagonism towards Suella Braverman among MPs that there is now a generally held view that she will defect,” a senior Tory source told the i newspaper. “If she does, it will be a clear admission that she could not win the leadership and does not have the support of any MPs in the party.”
But a spokesperson for the ex-home secretary denied the claim, telling the outlet: “Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades.”
However, a Reform source was quoted as saying: “We expect her to take a tilt at the Tory leadership and then come over to us, perhaps in the autumn around conference time.
“She’ll fit in well.”
Thursday 18 July 2024 07:20
Andy Gregory
A Tory MP received a round of applause after hitting out at his own party, saying they deserved to lose the general election.
George Freeman, who was a senior minister in Rishi Sunak’s government, slammed the Tories and accused his team of “taking voters for granted”, during a passionate Question Time speech.
Watch: Sunak jokes about how he became prime minister and lost election
Thursday 18 July 2024 05:02
Andy Gregory
Tory peer calls for change in party’s ‘absurd’ leadership rules
Thursday 18 July 2024 02:20
Andy Gregory
Tory peer Daniel Hannan has called for a change in the party’s “absurd” leadership rules, warning that “the next Conservative leader will struggle to keep the job”.
In a piece for the ConservativeHome website, he wrote: “I say that, not as a comment on the next leader, but as a comment on our absurd leadership rules. To win, a candidate need only come second in the MPs’ ballot. But to remain in office, he or she needs more than half of MPs’ votes.
“We are the only party in the democratic world that, instead of building in some incumbency protection, makes it harder to hold the job than to win it in the first place.
Warning that “the rules are needlessly polarising” and that “we can’t keep putting this off”, he continued: “We can’t change the rules in the run-up to a leadership contest. But we need to change them afterward.
“The new leader should appoint a committee, bringing together figures from the 1922 and the Party Board, perhaps chaired by a former leader, to devise a better system. To forestall any temptation to game things in favour of a particular candidate, any changes should come into force only with a delay – say, from 2030. That will allow the authors to focus disinterestedly on finding the best system.
“How much more evidence do we need? What the devil are we waiting for?”
Starmer attacks ‘rot of 14 years’ of Tory rule
Wednesday 17 July 2024 23:31
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested the new Labour Government is “finding new and unexpected” scars that it blames on 14 years of Conservative rule.
After largely warm exchanges in the Commons to consider Labour’s first legislative programme since winning the General Election, Sir Keir accused the Conservatives of having been “content to let our country’s problems fester” and focus “almost entirely on trying to save their own skins” in their final months in power.
The prime minister claimed the “rot of 14 years” will take time to repair as he insisted the job of national renewal is “not a quick fix”.
MPs laugh as Robert Jenrick describes Conservatives as ‘centrist party’
Wednesday 17 July 2024 20:43
Andy Gregory
Robert Jenrick has drawn laughter from the Commons benches as he described the Conservatives as a “centrist party”.
Striking a hardline tone, the potential Tory leadership contender said: “What we’re seeing in the Channel, is a national security emergency. We’re seeing tens of thousands of people about whom we know next to nothing crossing into our country – breaking into our country in a flagrant abuse of our laws ... This has got to stop.”
Urging governments to reduce legal migration, he claimed failures to do so had been “immensely corrosive to public trust and confidence in politics, and in democracy”, adding: “If we centrist parties on the left and right do nothing about this, then you will see the rise of far-right parties in this country.”
Robert Jenrick laments Tories ‘did not deliver’ on immigration, NHS and lower taxes
Wednesday 17 July 2024 17:44
Andy Gregory
Robert Jenrick has also delivered what will be widely viewed as a Tory leadership pitch, as he warned of the mistakes his party had made while in government in response to the new King’s Speech.
Seeking to paint himself as a unifying figure with a clear view of the multitude of issues facing Britain, the ex-immigration minister said: “As a patriot, we all know that this government’s success is our success, and we want them to tackle the great challenges facing our country and to enjoy their time in office as much as I did in my years in ministerial office.”
Insisting that he “will always defend the record of the last Conservative government”, he told MPs: “We also promised we would secure our borders, that we would ensure a strong economy and lower taxes, and a strong NHS and public services, which the public rightly expect. And on those counts, we did not deliver.
“The baton for those things now passes to this Labour government, and where it succeeds I will welcome and support it. Where it falls short, I will challenge it. Because we want to ensure that those great issues facing our country are properly addressed.
“We live in one of the greatest times to be alive, but it is a time of immense change, when the shift in power from west to east, when new technologies like AI is upending old industries, where there is an age of mass migration, which is challenging the pace of change in our country, creating huge pressures on housing, public services, on integration, making it harder to build the united country we all want to see.”
Taking a more hardline tone, he continued: “What we’re seeing in the Channel, is a national security emergency. We’re seeing tens of thousands of people about whom we know next to nothing crossing into our country – breaking into our country in a flagrant abuse of our laws ... This has got to stop.”
Priti Patel defends Tory legacy amid reports of looming leadership bid
Wednesday 17 July 2024 17:23
Andy Gregory
Dame Priti Patel has sought to defend the previous Tory goverment’s legacy during the debate on the King’s Speech, as reports suggest she could run to be the next party leader.
In remarks which will only fuel such expectations, the ex-home secretary told MPs: “We’re going to hear this a lot, which is basically talking down the record of the previous government. But of course much was advanced over the last 14 years, and we’re proud of our record and the transformation that we led including of public finances.
“These are big things that just don’t happen over a few months and weeks. We’re proud that we transformed public finances from the government borrowing £1 in every 4, to a much better fiscal position today.
“We’re proud to have supported the creation of 800 jobs per day on average, having the fastest economic growth of many of our competitors, cutting the tax burden on incomes on fuel duties, overseeing the increases in doctors and nurses working in our NHS, more teacher numbers, and schools raising standards.
“That’s a record we are proud of, including getting more police officers on our streets fighting crime and law and order. So it’s important to be reflective of that.”
In a message to the new government front bench, she added: “It’s all very well trying to rewrite history, because sometimes it does take away attention from the responsibility of having to govern and do the big decisions and choices through slogans.”
Who will be the next Tory leader? All the front runners ranked, from Priti Patel to Suella Braverman
Wednesday 17 July 2024 15:01
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The Conservatives face a leadership contest after a disastrous election result which saw Labour win by a landslide.
But the party has lost a string of senior names who had been expected to stand – including former cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps.
Here we look at some of the remaining runners and riders:
Wednesday 17 July 2024 13:24
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The UK’s new and former prime ministers walked together in good spirits today just weeks after the Tories were handed a devastating election loss.
Rishi Sunak hit by mass strike of Tory MPs before surprise snap election
Wednesday 17 July 2024 10:03
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak was warned he was losing his grip on his own MPs after he was hit by a mass strike in the last days of his premiership.
In a sign of the pressure Mr Sunak was under before he shocked Westminster by calling a snap general election, the then prime minister was told the situation was unsustainable.
On a single day Conservative whips received a request from around 200 Tory MPs – well over half of the parliamentary party - to be slipped, or excused from voting, a former senior Downing Street insider said.
Kemi Badenoch leads polling of Tory members
Wednesday 17 July 2024 07:02
Andy Gregory
A quarter of Tory members support Kemi Badenoch as the next Tory leader, polling by Conservative Home suggests.
Of nearly 1,000 Conservative members polled by the website, 26 per cent favoured Ms Badenoch, with Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat trailing in joint second place with 13 per cent each.
Suella Braverman had the support of 10 per cent of those polled, with James Cleverly on 9 per cent and Priti Patel on 3.
Kemi Badenoch can ‘slay Reform dragon’, claims former Tory MP
Wednesday 17 July 2024 04:26
Andy Gregory
Kemi Badenoch is a clear frontrunner who can “slay the Reform dragon”, a Tory MP in the so-called Red Wall who lost his seat at the general election has claimed.
Alex Stafford, who lost his Rother Valley as Reform made gains, insisted Ms Badenoch was the “clear front runner”, writing in the Telegraph: “While we are lucky to have several good candidates who are thinking of putting their name forward, there is a clear front runner who can slay the Reform dragon – Kemi Badenoch.
“Having been her parliamentary private secretary for the past 18 months, I saw first-hand how hardworking, principled, and above all an embodiment of Conservatism she is.
“From speaking out against the high levels of immigration, to starting the downfall of the SNP by stopping the Scottish gender recognition reform bill, Kemi again and again proves she knows what chimes with the public, and how to use it to thwart our political opponents.
“It is essential she comes forward and throws her hat into the ring for the leadership of our party.”
Scottish Tory leadership contender says party has ‘lost sight of what we are for'
Wednesday 17 July 2024 01:58
Andy Gregory
The Scottish Tories have “lost sight of what we are for” and risk becoming “irrelevant” if they refuse to change their party, a senior MSP mulling a leadership bid has warned.
Writing in The Telegraph, Brian Whittle said the party’s election message over the past decade that Scotland should vote Tory to stop independence and the SNP had now “played out”, warning that after so many years of the party “spending our time telling voters what we’re against, both we and the public have lost sight of what we are for.”
The former OIympian wrote: “This leadership election is our opportunity to build our team, set our objective and formulate our strategy to win in Scotland. After 25 years of devolution, we are the only party in Holyrood never to have had the opportunity to govern. It’s time to decide how we change that.”
Watch: Tory MP says he ‘disagrees fundamentally’ with JD Vance’s ‘Islamist UK’ remark
Tuesday 16 July 2024 23:38
Andy Gregory
Priti Patel to run for Tory leadership - reports
Tuesday 16 July 2024 22:48
Athena Stavrou
Priti Patel is reportedly making a bid to become the Conservative Party leader after being “urged to run” by her colleagues.
The former home secretary is expected to make a formal announcement later this week, The Telegraph reported, adding that she has already assembled a campaign team funded by “high-profile” Tory donors.
A source close to her told the paper: “Priti has kept a low profile and done her best to support others, she feels colleagues also need time to digest the general election result and don’t want posturing in the media from prospective candidates.
“She has quietly put a team together, as many colleagues from different sides of the party have over the past week urged her to run and she now has key MP supporters and campaign staff in place including some high profile Conservative donors.”
The Telegraph reported that unlike her fellow right-wing MP, Suella Braverman, her colleagues believe Ms Patel has the ability to unite the party as they pick up the pieces from their general election defeat.
Tory treasurer who gave party £5m quits role days after election defeat
Tuesday 16 July 2024 21:01
Andy Gregory
Sir Mohamed Mansour, the senior treasurer of the Conservative Party, announced on Saturday he was resigning from his post 10 days after Rishi Sunak’s election defeat.
The Egyptian-born billionaire had donated £5m to the party and had been a key player in raising other funds. His donation was the biggest for the Conservatives since 2001.
He told The Independent: “I have been honoured to serve my country and party since December 2022 and it has been a privilege to do so.
“Rishi Sunak has announced his intention to depart as party leader, and it makes sense for me to also step down at this time. A new leadership team will bring fresh talent and thinking to the task ahead: guiding the party on its path of renewal.”
Tories received £50,000 donation from business linked to convicted billionaire
Tuesday 16 July 2024 18:15
Andy Gregory
The Conservatives received £50,000 in the dying days of the election campaign from a company linked to a billionaire who has been jailed for exploiting his domestic staff, Electoral Commission figures show.
Figures published on Monday show Westminster Development Services, a consortium responsible for redeveloping the Old War Office on Whitehall into a Raffles hotel, made the donation to the Tories on July 1.
According to Companies House, Westminster Development Services is up to 50% owned by AMC Project Services, which itself lists Prakash Hinduja, the chairman of the Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s richest men, as its owner.
Some 10 days earlier, on June 21, Hinduja and three members of his family had been jailed by a Swiss court after being convicted of exploiting domestic workers at their mansion in Geneva.
Christopher McKeon has the full report:
Tom Tugendhat to announce Tory leadership bid within weeks, report suggests
Tuesday 16 July 2024 16:31
Andy Gregory
Tom Tugendhat – who came fifth in the race to succed Boris Johnson in 2022 – has found widespread report for a Tory leadership bid and is expected to announce his campaign within weeks, a new report claims.
A campaign team established by the shadow security minister and comprising current and former Tory MPs has been impressed to discover a broad base of goodwill from across the party during initial soundings among MP colleagues, The Telegraph reports.
“There is an early embryonic organisation, taking soundings about who would support him,” one senior Tory told the outlet, while another insider jibed that Mr Tugendhat’s nascent campaign was “the worst kept secret in Westminster”.
Top Tory calls for Rishi Sunak to stay as party leader until November as succession battle looms
Tuesday 16 July 2024 14:49
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A senior Tory MP has called for Rishi Sunak to stay as Conservative leader until the end of November as the battle to replace him takes shape.
Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell said it is important to “run the contest long” to ensure leadership candidates “come under scrutiny both by their colleagues and by the party generally, and by the public”.
And he suggested the leadership election should be launched at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham at the end of September.
Rishi Sunak hit by mass strike of Tory MPs before surprise snap election
Tuesday 16 July 2024 13:07
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak was warned he was losing his grip on his own MPs after he was hit by a mass strike in the last days of his premiership.
In a sign of the pressure Mr Sunak was under before he shocked Westminster by calling a snap general election, the then prime minister was told the situation was unsustainable.
On a single day Conservative whips received a request from around 200 Tory MPs – well over half of the parliamentary party - to be slipped, or excused from voting, a former senior Downing Street insider said.
Tory grandee urges against lurch to extreme right in leadership battle
Tuesday 16 July 2024 11:29
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The Conservative Party needs to avoid a lurch to the “extreme right” as it tries to rebuild itself from its worst ever defeat, a former party chair has warned.
Chris Patten, who was chair for the successful 1992 general election campaign where he also lost his seat, has raised concerns that the Tories will try to ape Nigel Farage as it seeks to win back supporters.
Writing for The Independent, the Tory grandee, who was also Britain’s last governor of Hong Kong, labelled two of the potential contenders Priti Patel and Suella Braverman as “extreme right” and described Farage as “Tommy Robinson in a cravat” as he urged for the party to take time over its reset.
Shadow veterans minister says Sunak should remain Tory leader until November
Tuesday 16 July 2024 08:52
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Shadow veterans minister Andrew Bowie has said Rishi Sunak should stay on as Conservative Party leader until November.
Asked if he agreed with shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell that the former prime minister should continue to act as party leader until November, Mr Bowie told Sky News: “I think it’s important that there is some stability at the top of the Conservative Party as we determine how and the length of the leadership election that we’re about to undertake.
“And Rishi gives us that certainty, gives us that continuity, and I hope he finds within himself to carry on whilst we get our house in order and select who is to succeed him and lead us into the next election in four or five years.
He added: “Yes, from my perspective, I think he should stay.”
Asked if the party should move to the right, Mr Bowie said: “Absolutely not, I mean, that’s for the party members to decide who the leader is going to be, but I think that the Conservative Party does better when it comma