Tom Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, announced last night that he will be running for the Conservative Party leadership.
His entry into the race makes him the second Tory MP to do so, following James Cleverly. The leadership contest is set to wrap up this autumn, with nominations opening last night.
Other MPs, including Kemi Badenoch, Dame Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, Mel Stride, and Robert Jenrick, are also expected to declare their candidacies.
All seven candidates have requested nomination packs from Bob Blackman, chair of the 1922 Committee, as reported by Sky News. Each hopeful needs the backing of at least ten MPs to proceed.
In his announcement, Mr. Tugendhat emphasized his aim to end internal Tory conflicts and unite the party. He stated his intention to become not just the next Tory leader but the next prime minister.
Tugendhat criticized the party’s recent performance, blaming it on a loss of public trust due to unfulfilled promises on taxes, immigration, and personal control.
“I’m running to be the next Conservative prime minister because we can’t make our country better from the opposition benches,” he said.
He pledged to shift focus from internal disputes to advancing Conservative values and regaining public trust.
Tugendhat also highlighted his commitment to traditional conservative values, citing his opposition to Covid vaccine passports and the National Insurance increase.
Additionally, he raised the possibility of withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a stance intended to distinguish him from competitors like Kemi Badenoch, who has supported keeping this option open.
In an op-ed for The Daily Telegraph, Tugendhat argued that the leadership race should not be divided by issues like the ECHR, gender, or tax rates.
Instead, he advocated for commonsense Conservative positions on national security and border control.
Polling and Endorsements
Recent polling has positioned Tugendhat ahead of other contenders among the public and 2024 Tory voters, with Cleverly following.
Savanta polling from July 19-21 shows Tugendhat with a net favorability rating of minus three points among the public and 21 points among Tory voters.
Cleverly’s ratings were slightly lower, and Dame Priti Patel was the least popular.
Tugendhat, a moderate centrist, has garnered support from figures like former One Nation leader Damian Green and right-leaning former minister Steve Baker.
Other Candidates’ Positions
James Cleverly, who declared his candidacy on Tuesday, stressed the need for the party to broaden its support base and move beyond internal conflicts.
He also ruled out any pact with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, expected to run, has called for a rejection of “divisive identity politics and woke nonsense” to win back Reform voters.
Leadership Race Timeline
The 1922 Committee has set the nomination period from last night until July 29.
MPs will then narrow the field to four candidates, who will present their cases at the Conservative Party Conference from September 29 to October 2.
The final two candidates, selected by the parliamentary party, will face an online vote by Conservative Party members, with the result announced on November 2.
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