Members of the Conservative Party in Britain are gathering for their annual conference plagued by the aftermath of a devastating election defeat and the urgent need to elect a new leader. The Conservative Party faced a humiliating loss in the recent election, with the center-left Labour Party under Prime Minister Keir Starmer securing a significant majority in the House of Commons. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his resignation post-election, leaving the party leadership in flux until a successor is chosen.
With a significantly reduced presence in Parliament, the Conservative Party is now focused on selecting a new leader who can steer the party back to relevancy. From the initial six candidates, the list has narrowed down to four contenders vying for the leadership role. The candidates – Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat – are making their final appeals to party members during the four-day conference in Birmingham, England.
Leading up to the selection of the final two candidates for the leadership role, a series of speeches and engagements will take place to garner support from party members. The chosen leader will be decided through a vote by party members across the country, with the announcement of the new leader scheduled for November 2.
The upcoming leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for the Conservative Party, following a tumultuous period under the leadership of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. The resignation of Truss after a brief 49-day tenure further underscored the instability within the party.
In the wake of the election defeat, the Conservative Party faced challenges from both hard-right factions and centrist opponents, posing a dilemma for the party’s direction. The emergence of Reform U.K., led by Nigel Farage, as a formidable opponent and the gains made by the Liberal Democrats have added complexity to the Conservative Party’s strategy moving forward.
Among the frontrunners for the party leadership are Jenrick and Badenoch, both emphasizing right-wing policies to attract party members. Jenrick advocates for strict immigration controls and severing ties with the European Convention on Human Rights to address asylum seekers in the UK. Badenoch, drawing inspiration from Margaret Thatcher, advocates for a smaller state, patriotism, and criticizes multiculturalism.
While some within the Conservative Party are inclined towards a more centrist approach, there is a prevailing concern that veering too far to the right could alienate voters. Former Prime Minister Theresa May cautioned against abandoning the center ground in pursuit of appeasing hard-right factions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to secure electoral success.