The Conservative Party is set to begin a three-month leadership contest to replace current leader Rishi Sunak. The announcement comes after Sunak formally stepped down as leader, and he will remain acting leader of the party until a successor is appointed. Nominations for potential candidates will open on Wednesday, with 10 MPs needed to back a candidate to enter the first round of voting.
MPs will subsequently reduce the field to four candidates, who will then speak to party members at the Conservative conference in September. Of those four, MPs will then select two candidates, with the final winner chosen by Conservative Party members in an online ballot. The ballot of party members closes on 31 October, with only members who have been an active member for at least 90 days eligible to vote.
No candidate has confirmed their candidacy yet, however, potential candidates include Suella Braverman, Dame Priti Patel, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, and Kemi Badenoch. Former immigration minister, Robert Jenrick is also rumored to be a potential contender.
Although Sunak initially wanted to step down as leader earlier, he will remain in his post until a new leader of the opposition is elected, in order to allow a smooth transition. Labour’s first budget is expected in the autumn, meaning Sunak could still be in post for that. Bob Blackman, who will oversee the selection of the new leader, expressed his commitment to a respectful and comprehensive leadership debate.
Conservative MPs will subsequently narrow down the field through a series of ballots once parliament returns in September, reducing the field to four by the Conservative conference at the end of that month. While the party has as many as 11 of the 121 surviving Tory MPs as potential candidates, it remains to be seen who will be officially nominated for the race
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