LONDON: In the wake of a devastating election loss, six British lawmakers have declared their candidacy to lead the Conservative Party. The election defeat, which saw the party's dominance crumble, has prompted a critical leadership contest that will shape the future direction of the party.
The contenders are:
The leadership race, which must be concluded by Monday afternoon, will determine whether the party will shift towards the right or seek a more centrist approach. Kemi Badenoch, who finished third in the 2022 leadership race, is currently favored by bookmakers. Badenoch, born in Nigeria and a staunch advocate of conservative principles, has called for a "renewal of capitalism" and a focus on a smaller state, echoing the sentiments of Conservative icon Margaret Thatcher.
The Conservative Party is deeply divided following its crushing defeat on July 4, which resulted in a Labour landslide and the loss of 14 years of power. The party was reduced to just 121 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, marking its worst-ever performance. The election results revealed a significant shift in voter support to both right-wing and left-wing parties.
The party faces a choice between moderates who aim to win back centrist voters and hard-liners who advocate for stricter immigration and law-and-order policies to counter the rise of the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage. Suella Braverman, a prominent figure on the right, has opted not to run and has urged the party to consider merging with Reform UK.
The new leader will be chosen through a multi-stage process. Over the next three months, Conservative lawmakers will narrow the field to four candidates, who will then make their case at the party’s annual conference in early October. The final two candidates will be put to an online vote of Conservative members nationwide.
The leadership contest follows a tumultuous period for the Conservative Party, marked by economic challenges, the Brexit process, and internal scandals. Rishi Sunak, the outgoing Prime Minister, will continue as acting leader until a successor is named on November 2.
The last contested leadership election in mid-2022 saw Liz Truss, the eventual winner, resign after just 49 days in office due to economic turmoil. Sunak was subsequently chosen to lead the party.
Latest Updates:
UK Labour Govt Unveils Key Policies in King's Speech
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy Begins Two-Day Visit to India, What's on Agenda?
Zelenskyy Appeals to UK for Enhanced Military Support Against Russia
