Badenoch and Jenrick Advance to Final Round of Conservative Leadership Race

Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are the last two candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race following the elimination of James Cleverly. The outcome, revealed in Parliament, surprised many who had anticipated Cleverly’s progression into the final round after his well-received speech at the party’s conference and previous success in topping the third ballot of Members of Parliament (MPs) earlier in the week.

During the crucial fourth round of voting, Cleverly secured 37 votes, falling behind Badenoch, who obtained 42 votes, and Jenrick, who garnered 41 votes. Consequently, Badenoch and Jenrick will now face off, with the final decision resting with Conservative Party members, expected to be announced on November 2.

In response to the result, Cleverly expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating, “Sadly it wasn’t to be. We are all Conservatives, and it’s important the Conservative Party unites to take on this catastrophic Labour government.” Both Badenoch and Jenrick commended Cleverly’s campaign, hinting at potential roles for him in their prospective shadow cabinets should they win the leadership.

Badenoch noted Cleverly’s “energy, ideas, and optimism” and expressed eagerness to continue working with him, while Jenrick described Cleverly’s effort as “brilliantly” fought, emphasizing the necessity of having Cleverly in a senior position within the party in the future. Speaking to the BBC, Jenrick articulated his delight at reaching the final stage, promising “professional, competent leadership” focused on key issues such as the economy, the National Health Service, and immigration.

Badenoch, a former business secretary, emphasized her determination to “go bold,” urging the party to address systemic issues she perceives to be broken, which she attributes to Labour’s current struggles. As former ministers appealing to the right-wing faction of the party, both candidates reflect different visions for the Conservative future, with Badenoch positioning herself as a voice of youthful change and Jenrick highlighting his hardline stance on immigration.

The leadership contest followed the resignation of former leader Rishi Sunak after the party’s significant defeat in the general election earlier this year. Since September, the Conservative MPs have been narrowing the field of candidates through successive voting rounds, with Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat among those previously eliminated. As the contest draws to its conclusion, party officials and members remain keenly focused on revitalizing their platform and uniting to challenge the Labour government.

The victorious leader will inherit the task of revitalizing the Conservative Party’s prospects after a decisive loss to Labour, which saw Keir Starmer assume the role of Prime Minister. The new leader will aim to restore Conservative credibility and offer a viable alternative to Labour ahead of the next national election, mandated to occur by mid-2029.