This week, the Conservatives will begin a three-month leadership race to succeed Rishi Sunak, which will culminate on November 2 with the announcement of a new Tory leader.
Mr. Sunak has officially resigned as party leader, but he will continue as acting leader until a new leader is chosen.
Mel Stride, a former minister, stated that he was “considering” announcing his candidacy. However, no one has yet officially stated that they will stand.
Others include Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, Suella Braverman, Dame Priti Patel, a former home secretary, James Cleverly, a former security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Kemi Badenoch, a former communities secretary.
Candidates will need the support of ten MPs to participate in the first round of voting, and nominations will open on Wednesday. This will be reduced to four candidates by MPs, each of whom will have a chance to address party members at the Conservative conference in September.
After that, MPs will narrow those down to two candidates, and party members will vote online to select the winner.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, shadow home secretary James Cleverly did not say whether he would participate in the leadership race, but he did not rule it out.
He stated that “holding the new Labour government to account on my old portfolio, something that’s incredibly important, and that’s what I will be continuing to do, and we will see what happens once those nominations are open” has been his primary focus.
Squeezed by BBC Breakfast, he concurred that his reaction was “not a no”.
Mr. Cleverly stated, “There is a timescale for the thinking that I and others will have done and will do about the leadership of the party is important and I’m not going to rush ahead of that timescale.”
He responded, “Tomorrow’s work,” when asked who he would back if he did not declare his candidacy for leader.
The plans permit upwards of 11 of the 121 enduring Conservative MPs multi week to record their selections for the principal round, which closes on 29 July.
Starting next week, candidates will also be able to run their campaigns during the summer break.
When parliament returns at the beginning of September, MPs will begin a series of ballots to reduce the field to four by the Tory conference at the end of that month.
The voting form of party individuals will close on 31 October.
The party stated that members will only be eligible to vote if they have been a member for at least 90 days prior to the closing of the ballot and were an active member when the nominations for candidates opened.
According to information provided by the BBC, Mr. Sunak had previously desired to step down in order to permit the party to progress.
However, it currently appears as though he may as yet be in post for Work’s most memorable Financial plan – anticipated in the Fall.
“A smooth and orderly transition to a new leader of the opposition,” Mr. Sunak said, was in “the national interest” for him to remain in his position.
He stated, ” As the official opposition, our party will be able to carry out its duties in this manner professionally and effectively.
“I accept this is best for the Moderate Party and, above all, our country.”
Weave Blackman, who as executive of the backbenchers’ 1922 Panel will supervise the choice of the new pioneer, said he was “resolved that our party will have a conscious and intensive initiative discussion”.
“Added he: We must remember that the country and our members want to see us engaged in proper debate, not personal attacks, even though there are significant debates about our party’s future.”