4 candidates in the race to succeed Liz Truss as UK PM.
London: Four candidates are vying to replace Liz Truss as leader of the Conservative Party in the UK – Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat, and James Cleverly.
The contest is important after Tories suffered their worst defeat since 1834 in the July general elections, reducing to just 121 MPs. The new leader will determine the direction of the party after it is voted out of power.
Badenoch, an MP since 2017, promises ‘renewal’ citing Thatcher as inspiration but faced bullying allegations. Jenrick is the frontrunner, taking a hardline on immigration. Ex-army officer Tugendhat is centrist with a foreign policy focus. Cleverly backed Brexit and invoked centrist appeal.
Badenoch wants to ban conversion therapy and rejects ‘identity politics’. Thatcher is her hero despite criticism. Jenrick quit as immigration minister, backing more restrictions.
Tugendhat served in Iraq and Afghanistan, condemning Farage over tensions. As MP since 2015, he is backed locally but the party faces ‘leadership problems’.
Cleverly, an MP since 2015, is popular and backs the Axing Rights Convention to deport refugees quickly. However, he faced backlash over inappropriate comments.
Conservatives will vote on October 9-10 to select the final two with members voting online soon after to elect the new leader and successor to Truss.
