Tom Tugendhat, a former minister and current Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, has announced that he is running for the position of Conservative leader in order to become the next Prime Minister. This announcement comes after Rishi Sunak resigned from his position as party leader following their largest-ever defeat in this summer’s general election. Tugendhat is the second Conservative MP to announce their candidacy for the position, with James Cleverly having announced his candidacy earlier this week.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Tugendhat stated that the Conservative Party lost the previous election due to the fact that they “lost the trust of the British people”. If elected, he would focus on implementing policies that align with traditional Conservative ideas, such as lower taxes and immigration and more control for British citizens. He also expressed willingness to leave the European Court of Human Rights if elected, stating that Britain must control its borders.
Tugendhat, who before entering politics was an Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the current chair of the foreign affairs committee and has been highly critical of the West’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and raised concerns about threats from China. He also publicly criticized Boris Johnson over the partygate scandal, stating that the government did not “look serious”.
Conservative MPs wishing to contest the leadership of the party must secure support from at least 10 MPs by 29 July, with the field being narrowed down to four in September and a final two being selected by party members in November. Other potential candidates for the position include Suella Braverman, Dame Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
Tugendhat’s announcement marks the continuation of what is expected to be a heated race to replace Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party, with Brexit, immigration, and Britain’s economic recovery likely to be key areas of focus for all candidates
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