Conservatives Kick Off Three-Month Leadership Contest to Replace Rishi Sunak – Who Will Be the New Tory Leader?

London, England – The Conservative Party in the UK is gearing up for a three-month leadership contest to find a replacement for Rishi Sunak, with the announcement of a new Tory leader to be made on November 2.

Nominations are set to open this week, requiring candidates to secure the backing of 10 MPs to enter the initial round of voting. Following this, MPs will further narrow down the candidates to four, who will then have the opportunity to address party members at the Conservative conference starting on September 29.

The selection process will ultimately lead to two final candidates, with the ultimate winner being chosen by Conservative Party members through an online ballot. As Rishi Sunak steps down as the party leader, the spotlight now shifts to potential candidates, including the likes of Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman, Dame Priti Patel, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, and Kemi Badenoch.

The timeline allows for up to 11 of the remaining 121 Tory MPs to file nominations for the first round, with nominations closing on July 29. Candidates will also have the summer recess to mount their campaigns, with MPs set to oversee the process through a series of ballots upon their return in September.

The ballot of party members is scheduled to close on October 31, with eligibility limited to members who have been active for 90 days or more prior to the closing date. Despite initial intentions to step down earlier, Sunak has decided to stay on to ensure a smooth transition to a new leader for the Conservative Party.

Bob Blackman, overseeing the selection process as chairman of the backbenchers’ 1922 Committee, emphasized the importance of respectful and thorough leadership debate, steering clear of personal attacks in favor of substantive discussions about the party’s future.