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How will the Conservatives choose their new leader? Conservative leadership: How does the contest work and who chooses the winner?
(1 day later)
Published24 July 2024Published24 July 2024
The Conservative leadership contest is now well under way. Four remaining candidates are competing to become the next Conservative Party leader.
Rishi Sunak formally stood down after leading the Tories to their worst performance at a general election, but has stayed on as acting leader until his replacement is chosen. Rishi Sunak formally stood down after leading the Tories to their worst performance at a general election, in July, but is staying on as acting leader until his replacement is chosen.
That person will be the sixth Tory leader in less than eight and a half years.That person will be the sixth Tory leader in less than eight and a half years.
How do nominations for Tory leader work? How were the Tory leadership candidates chosen?
Each candidate needed the support of at least 10 MPs to get on to the ballot, including a proposer and seconder. MPs could nominate only one candidate per round of voting.Each candidate needed the support of at least 10 MPs to get on to the ballot, including a proposer and seconder. MPs could nominate only one candidate per round of voting.
This was a much lower bar than during the last leadership election in 2022, when hopefuls needed the backing of 100 MPs. Mr Sunak was the only one to enter the race with that level of support and so became the party leader.This was a much lower bar than during the last leadership election in 2022, when hopefuls needed the backing of 100 MPs. Mr Sunak was the only one to enter the race with that level of support and so became the party leader.
There are currently 121 Tory MPs, but those who are also whips or sit on the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee can not nominate a candidate. There are currently 121 Tory MPs, but those who are also whips or sit on the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee could not nominate a candidate.
Candidates have been told they will each need to raise £200,000 for the party to progress to the final four. Applicants were also told they would each need to raise £200,000 for the party to progress to the final four.
On 29 July, the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee announced six contenders had met the requirements.On 29 July, the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee announced six contenders had met the requirements.
Shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins ruled herself out of the race. Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she had also decided not to run for leader as "most of the MPs disagree with my diagnosis and prescription”. How did the six candidates become four?
How will the contest unfold? After nominations closed on 29 July, candidates had five and a half weeks to try to impress their fellow MPs.
A three-month campaign began when nominations closed on 29 July. On 4 September, two days after Parliament returned, a first round of voting among Conservative MPs reduced the field from six to five contenders, with former home secretary Priti Patel - who came last - eliminated from the contest.
That gave the six candidates the summer parliamentary recess to start making their cases to their fellow MPs and Conservative Party members. On 10 September, five became four, after a second Tory MP vote knocked out Mel Stride.
On 4 September, two days after Parliament returned, a first round of voting among Conservative MPs reduced the field from six to five contenders, with former home secretary Priti Patel - in last place - eliminated from the contest.
On 10 September, five will become four when Tory MPs vote again. The candidate who finishes last will again be knocked out.
The final four will be given a number of opportunities to speak directly to Conservative members at the party's conference in Birmingham between 29 September and 2 October.The final four will be given a number of opportunities to speak directly to Conservative members at the party's conference in Birmingham between 29 September and 2 October.
The precise details of this "beauty parade" have still to be finalised, but the leadership contest will dominate the conference. With no leader's speech planned, the conference is likely to be dominated by the race to replace Mr Sunak.
Hustings and two further rounds of voting at Westminster will follow on 9-10 October, leaving only two contenders. How will the Tory leader be chosen?
Assuming no one pulls out and two remain, Conservative members will then select which one they want as their new leader. Two further rounds of voting at Westminster will follow, on 9-10 October, to determine the final two contenders.
Party members will be able to cast their vote between 15 October and 31 October. Assuming no one pulls out and two candidates remain, Conservative members will cast their vote between 15 October and 31 October to decide the winner.
They will make their choice via secure online voting, though this system has previously been criticised for its susceptibility to hackers and rogue state interference.They will make their choice via secure online voting, though this system has previously been criticised for its susceptibility to hackers and rogue state interference.
In recent years, party members have tended to pick the more right-wing candidate of the final two. In the first of two leadership elections in 2022, Mr Sunak consistently won more support from MPs than Liz Truss during each round before party members had their say. In recent years, party members have tended to pick the more right-wing candidate of the final two. In the first of two leadership elections in 2022, Mr Sunak consistently won more support from MPs than Liz Truss during each round before party members ultimately chose Ms Truss.
To be eligible to vote, party members must have been active for 90 days before the ballot closes and must have been party members when nominations opened.To be eligible to vote, party members must have been active for 90 days before the ballot closes and must have been party members when nominations opened.
The new leader of the Conservative Party will be announced on 2 November - at which point Mr Sunak will formally hand over. The new leader of the Conservative Party will be announced on 2 November - at which point Mr Sunak will hand over the reins.
The winner will become the official leader of the opposition and the figurehead of the Conservatives' efforts to rebuild the party.The winner will become the official leader of the opposition and the figurehead of the Conservatives' efforts to rebuild the party.
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