Tom Tugendhat has been knocked out of the Conservative management race, leaving three candidates to face one other spherical of voting by MPs on Wednesday.
James Cleverly leapt into the lead with 39 votes, leaping from third place on the final vote, after what was seen as a robust efficiency finally week’s Conservative Get together convention.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick got here in second with 31 votes – dropping two votes on final time. Kemi Badenoch got here a detailed third with 30 votes – up two from the final spherical. Tugendhat acquired 20 votes.
The candidates don’t have any time to relaxation as MPs will choose the ultimate two tomorrow – who will then go to a vote by celebration membership over the subsequent three weeks.
The brand new chief shall be introduced on 2 November.
In a social media post after the outcomes, Tugendhat thanked his supporters.
“Your power, your concepts and your help have proven a imaginative and prescient of what our celebration may turn into,” he stated.
“Our marketing campaign has ended however our dedication to our nation continues.”
With Badenoch and Jenrick locked in a decent race, the battle now shifts to successful Tugendhat’s supporters.
Cleverly is only one vote shy of guaranteeing his place within the last two, having received slightly below a 3rd of the 121 remaining Tory MPs.
Each Cleverly and Badenoch elevated their votes after a spherical of speeches and interviews at last week’s Conservative Party conference.
The three remaining candidates posted to social media to thank their supporters.
Regardless of the surge in votes, Cleverly advised his supporters “the job’s not completed” in a social media post.
“I’m excited to maintain spreading our constructive Conservative message,” he added.
Badenoch gave Tugendhat her condolences, then celebrated her elevated backing saying “I’m happy to have elevated help and grateful to all of my colleagues who voted for me”.
Jenrick stated: “I’m extremely grateful, as soon as once more, for the help of colleagues from throughout our celebration.”
He also thanked Tugendhat, who he stated “confirmed the perfect of our celebration”.
Messages from the rival camp present Jenrick and Badenoch are battling for the help of the correct of the celebration as they try to make the ultimate two. Whereas Cleverly now prone to make the ultimate spherical because the “One Nation” wing’s candidate.
A spokesperson for Badenoch’s marketing campaign stated: “There are three candidates left on this contest, two are gaining votes and one goes backwards and dropping help.
“The precise of the Conservative Get together now must coalesce round Kemi, who can attain throughout and unify the celebration, has the star high quality to chop by way of in opposition, and is indisputably the members’ alternative for chief.”
A spokesman for Jenrick’s marketing campaign stated: “Robert is now in prime place to make the ultimate two.”
“MPs need seriousness and competence,” the spokesperson stated – stating Jenrick had received help from completely different wings of the celebration.
The management contest winner will exchange former prime minister Rishi Sunak, who stood down as celebration chief after main the Conservatives to their worst efficiency at a normal election in July.
Former house secretary Priti Patel went out in the first round of voting by Tory MPs in September, adopted by shadow pensions secretary Mel Stride a week later.
The times earlier than the outcomes had been introduced noticed a flurry of endorsements for the management candidates.
Cleverly acquired a lift on Monday when he was backed by former management candidate Stride, who received 16 votes within the final spherical. In whole, Cleverly gained 18 votes in comparison with the final spherical.
Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes stop as a Tory whip with a view to additionally publicly help Cleverly on Tuesday.
Whereas Badenoch acquired endorsements from former cupboard minister David Davis and one other from the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis.
The BBC understands ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak didn’t vote within the management election and doesn’t plan to endorse a candidate.
On the latest celebration convention, the final four candidates all gave major speeches setting their visions for reforming the celebration after its historic defeat within the normal election this yr.
Cleverly advised celebration members the Conservatives wanted to be “extra regular” to win again voters who abandoned them for Reform UK.
Jenrick known as for a “new Conservative Get together” and promised “an efficient freeze in internet migration”, whereas Badenoch stated she would “reprogramme the British state” based mostly on “renewed Conservative rules”.
Every candidate additionally attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer and stated their celebration may win the subsequent normal election below their management, however not with out altering its path.