James Cleverly has made a significant leap in the Tory leadership race, surpassing Robert Jenrick, according to a new post-conference survey reported by The Independent. The survey indicates that Cleverly, a Conservative Party leadership candidate, has moved into second place among party members, just ahead of Jenrick, as the next potential Tory leader.
In the survey conducted by grassroots Tory website Conservative Home, Cleverly is now predicted to defeat Jenrick in a hypothetical head-to-head situation in the final round of voting. Cleverly would secure 54% of the vote compared to Jenrick’s 36%. Additionally, Cleverly is also forecasted to beat another candidate, Tom Tugendhat, by a considerable margin of 67% to 18%.
Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch is currently leading the race, with the survey suggesting that she would triumph over all three of her competitors in a final head-to-head scenario. Badenoch would defeat Cleverly by 48% to 42%, Jenrick by 53% to 33%, and Tugendhat by 62% to 28%. Despite some challenges faced during the Conservative Party Conference, including controversies around maternity pay and comments on civil servants, Badenoch remains a strong contender for the leadership position.
During the conference, Cleverly’s impactful speech received significant applause from party members, boosting his standing in the race. This positive reception came despite criticism over his involvement in discussions concerning the Chagos Islands, which were later halted by his successor as Foreign Secretary, David Cameron. Notably, the talks initiated under a Conservative government led to some backlash, with Tugendhat denouncing the situation as “disgraceful.”
Furthermore, Badenoch received endorsement from Florida governor Ron DeSantis, citing her commitment to conservative principles and strength as qualities that make her an inspiration for conservatives worldwide. DeSantis endorsed Badenoch based on their collaborative efforts towards a trade agreement between Florida and the UK, praising her bold approach to governance.
Following the impending round of voting by the parliamentary party on October 9th, the field of candidates will be narrowed down to two, as per the survey by Conservative Home. Subsequently, party members will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate from the final two contenders. It’s important to note that the preferred candidate of the party members may not necessarily be one of the final two candidates.
The survey, conducted between October 3rd and 4th by Conservative Home, involved interviews with 793 Tory members. As the leadership race progresses, the dynamics among the contenders continue to evolve, setting the stage for a potentially transformative leadership change within the Conservative Party.