2024 Conservative Party leadership election

{{Main|July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election|Premiership of Liz Truss|October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis}}On 7 July 2022, Boris Johnson resigned as Conservative leader and Prime Minister after dozens of ministers resigned from his government following a slew of scandals and controversies, including Partygate, that marred the final few months of his premiership, culminating in the Chris Pincher scandal.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-07 |title=One scandal too many: British PM Boris Johnson resigns |url=https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-resignation-60da3c4b29a4e9c93c7db9f53034ad0e |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=AP News |language=en}} A leadership election was triggered to replace him, in which Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss were the final two candidates to be put forward to party members after a series of MPs' ballots. Truss won the contest, beating Sunak in the members' vote 57% to 43%.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Ben |date=2022-09-05 |title=Liz Truss's Tory leadership win is the narrowest under the current rules |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/chart-of-the-day/2022/09/liz-truss-leadership-election-win-votes |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}} She assumed leadership of the party on 5 September 2022, and became Prime Minister the following day.{{Cite web |title=Liz Truss becomes UK prime minister after meeting the Queen |url=https://news.sky.com/story/liz-truss-becomes-prime-minister-of-the-uk-12691158 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Truss' premiership would turn out to be the shortest of any Prime Minister in history, lasting just 49 days. Truss' tenure oversaw the death and state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which caused government business to be suspended during the 10-day national mourning period from 8–19 September. On 23 September 2022, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, Truss' Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a 'mini-budget', which introduced large-scale tax cuts and borrowing. It caused the value of pound sterling to crash, sliding to an all-time low against the US dollar. The mini-budget was widely criticised and its policies were gradually reversed over the following three weeks. The Conservatives' opinion poll ratings also began to fall sharply in the weeks following the announcement, dipping to around 20% as they trailed Labour by over 30% in some polls.

Truss dismissed Kwarteng without explanation on 14 October 2022 and replaced him with Jeremy Hunt. By 17 October, pressure was beginning to mount on Truss' premiership and five Conservative MPs were calling for her resignation. On 19 October, Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned after admitting to having used her personal email address to send a Cabinet document and her resignation letter was highly critical of Truss' government. Later that evening, a parliamentary vote on a debate to ban fracking — which was opposed by the government — descended into chaos over confusion whether it was being treated as a confidence vote in the government, compounded by speculation that the chief whip and deputy chief whip had resigned, and by allegations, later refuted, that some Conservative MPs had been manhandled in the division lobby. On 20 October, the following day, Truss announced she would resign as Prime Minister and Conservative leader shortly, triggering a second leadership election to find her replacement.{{Cite news |last1=Nevett|first1=Joshua|last2=Whannel|first2=Kate |date=2022-10-20 |title=Liz Truss resigns: PM's exit kicks off another Tory leadership race |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63332037 |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

{{Main|October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election|Premiership of Rishi Sunak}}{{More citations needed section|date=July 2024}}

The timetable for the October 2022 leadership election was much shorter than the July one. An expedited process was set out; candidates were required to obtain 100 nominations from fellow Conservative MPs before 2{{nbsp}}pm on 24 October, and an MPs' ballot followed by an online members' ballot was to be held shortly thereafter if more than one candidate received more than 100 nominations. Only two candidates announced their intention to stand: Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. There was intensive speculation that Johnson would initiate a bid for a return to the top post; at one point he was expected to stand and even received 62 nominations from MPs, but he subsequently declined to enter the race.

As only Sunak met the required threshold among MPs, receiving 197 nominations to Mordaunt's 27, Mordaunt withdrew from the leadership race two minutes before nominations closed and Sunak was left the only candidate remaining, enabling him to win the contest and become Conservative leader without an MPs' ballot or members' vote. Sunak became Prime Minister the next day, on 25 October.{{Cite web |title=Rishi Sunak wins race to become the UK's new prime minister |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/24/rishi-sunak-becomes-uks-new-prime-minister |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Slawson |first=Nicola |date=2022-10-25 |title=First Thing: Rishi Sunak becomes UK's PM after meeting the king |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/25/first-thing-rishi-sunak-become-uk-pm-after-meeting-king |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In his first speech as Prime Minister, Sunak said that Truss "was not wrong" to want to improve growth and that he "admired her restlessness to create change", but admitted that "some mistakes were made", and that he was elected prime minister in part to fix them. He promised to "place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government's agenda". In an almost immediate reversal of Truss' policy, Sunak reinstated the ban on fracking on 26 October 2022 as outlined in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

Sunak was faced with the task of rebuilding the Conservatives' reputation which had been significantly damaged by the controversies and scandals of the previous year and the Truss ministry. While their poll ratings recovered slightly over the following months, it still wasn't enough to bring them back to pre-Truss levels. Sunak contested his first local elections as leader on 4 May 2023, where the Conservatives suffered heavy losses. Two months later, on 20 July 2023, they lost two seats in by-elections; one to Labour and one to the Liberal Democrats. Their fortunes remained unchanged throughout policy changes of the following year, such as the shelving of the HS2 northern phase in October. The Conservatives lost two further seats in by-elections on 15 February 2024.{{Cite news|first1=Pete|last1=Simson|first2=Jasmine|last2=Ketibuah-Foley |date=2024-02-16 |title=Kingswood by-election: Labour's Damien Egan overturns large Tory majority |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-68308476 |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |first=Rachael|last=McMenemy|date=2024-02-16 |title=Labour wins Wellingborough seat in by-election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-68313404 |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In March 2024, there were suggestions that Sunak could face a leadership challenge before the upcoming general election — which was expected within the calendar year — if the Conservatives perform poorly at the local elections on 2 May.{{Cite web |last=Langford |first=Richard Vaughan, Eleanor |date=2024-03-19 |title=Sunak safe until May but MPs ready to act if local elections end in 'bloodbath' |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-safe-mps-ready-local-election-bloodbath-2964426 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Langford |first=Hugo Gye, Eleanor |date=2024-03-17 |title=Tories turn on each other over 'insane' plotting to oust Rishi Sunak |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/tories-turn-on-each-other-insane-plot-oust-rishi-sunak-2961348 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Crerar |first1=Pippa |last2=Stacey |first2=Kiran |date=2024-03-18 |title=Penny Mordaunt's Tory leadership rivals blamed for coup plot rumours |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/18/penny-mordaunt-tory-leadership-rivals-blamed-for-coup-plot-rumours |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Sunak however said he would resist a challenge, even if that ends up being the case.{{Cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Ashley |date=2024-03-20 |title=Sunak insists he'll still be PM after May even if local elections are a shocker |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-insists-hell-still-32401459 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |last2=Courea |first2=Eleni |date=2024-03-20 |title=Rishi Sunak urges his MPs to present unified front before local elections |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/20/rishi-sunak-urges-his-mps-to-present-unified-front-before-local-elections |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} As predicted, 2 May saw grim showing for the Conservatives, who suffered their worst local election results since 1996. Additionally, they lost another seat to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election, and narrowly lost the West Midlands mayoral election in a knife-edge vote. Sunak's premiership was described as more stable than that of his two predecessors, while still not being able to represent a turnaround for the Conservatives.{{Cite news |last=Landler |first=Mark |date=2024-05-22 |title=Sunak Announces U.K. Elections for July 4, Months Earlier Than Expected |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/world/europe/uk-election-sunak-politics.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

{{Main|2024 United Kingdom general election}}

On 22 May 2024, in a surprise announcement, Sunak called a general election for 4 July.{{Cite news |date=2024-05-22 |first=Paul|last=Seddon|title=Rishi Sunak announces UK general election for Thursday 4 July |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-69050450 |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

File:Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street (53836890030).jpg giving his final speech as Prime Minister on 5 July 2024]]Labour won the general election in a landslide, ending 14 years of Conservative government. Sunak conceded the election at 4:40 am on 5 July. The Conservatives experienced the largest defeat in its history, being reduced to 121 seats on a vote share of 23.7 per cent. It lost 244 seats, including those of twelve Cabinet ministers and that of former Prime Minister Truss.{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Former Prime Minister Liz Truss loses seat in U.K. election |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/07/05/liz-truss-former-uk-prime-minister-general-election-loss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706032834/https://www.axios.com/2024/07/05/liz-truss-former-uk-prime-minister-general-election-loss |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Axios}} It also lost all its seats in Wales.{{cite news |first1=Jennifer|last1=McKiernan|first2=Brian|last2=Wheeler|date=5 July 2024 |title=Rishi Sunak apologises after historic Tory defeat |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1xnzlzz99o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705000825/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1xnzlzz99o |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}

Subsequently, Sunak said in his final speech as Prime Minister that he would resign as leader of the party once a successor was elected.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Rishi Sunak speech in full outside Number 10 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ng0l02zd3o |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In early July, shortly after the general election, reports suggested that Danny Kruger and John Hayes, prominent MPs on the right of the party, were going to support the prospective leadership candidate Robert Jenrick. This was seen as an early setback for Suella Braverman, since both Kruger and Hayes previously campaigned for her bid to succeed Boris Johnson in July 2022.{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Archie |date=8 July 2024 |title=Suella Braverman's Tory leadership bid 'dead before it starts' as key ally expected to back rival |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-leadership-race-suella-braverman-b2575784.html |access-date= |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last=Hymas |first=Charles |date=7 July 2024 |title=Suella Braverman's Tory leadership campaign dealt blow as key ally abandons her |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/07/braverman-leadership-campaign-dealt-blow-key-ally-abandons/ |access-date= |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last=Vaughan |first=Richard |date=10 July 2024 |title=Ex-Braverman ally Robert Jenrick's Tory leader hopes rising after her bid implodes |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/ex-braverman-ally-robert-jenricks-tory-leader-hopes-rising-after-her-bid-implodes-3162020 |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=i |language=en-GB}} The i reported that following Braverman's controversial speeches regarding the pride flag, multiple Conservative MPs believed she had lost her support among her colleagues and could defect to Reform UK.{{Cite web |first1=Richard |last1=Vaughan |first2=Kitty |last2=Donaldson |first3=Eleanor |last3=Langford |date=2024-07-11 |title='She's lost all her mates': Braverman could defect to Reform, Tory MPs believe |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/suella-braverman-told-join-reform-3163474 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}} Sources in both parties suggested Braverman was expected to defect, potentially following the Conservative leadership election if she doesn't win.{{Cite web |first1=Kitty |last1=Donaldson |first2=Hugo |last2=Gye |first3=Richard |last3=Vaughan |date=2024-07-19 |title=Suella Braverman expected to defect to Reform as Tory leadership race heats up |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/suella-braverman-expected-defect-reform-tory-leadership-3179500 |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}} Braverman did not stand, but said she could have surpassed the ten MP threshold to do so.{{Cite web |title=Suella Braverman will not run in Tory leadership race |url=https://news.sky.com/story/suella-braverman-will-not-run-in-tory-leadership-race-13186430 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, Priti Patel and Kemi Badenoch were the confirmed candidates at the deadline of nominations on 29 July.{{cite news |last=Courea |first=Eleni |date=2024-07-29 |title=Who are the Conservative leadership candidates? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/29/who-are-the-conservative-leadership-candidates |access-date=2024-07-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Tugendhat and Cleverly were pitching themselves as more moderate, centre-ground candidates, while Badenoch, Jenrick and Patel were competing for the vote of the party's right-wing, and Stride is seen as being between the two groupings.{{cite news |last=Stacey |first=Kiran |date=2024-07-26 |title=Mel Stride to stand in Conservative leadership contest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/26/mel-stride-to-stand-in-conservative-leadership-contest |access-date=2024-07-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Bob Blackman, 1922 Committee chair, announced that he would give out formal warnings, or "yellow cards", if they briefed against their rivals.{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Dave |date=2024-07-29 |title=Tories to bring in 'yellow cards' to stop candidate attacks in leadership race |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-bring-yellow-cards-stop-33350682 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}

Ipsos reported that there was widespread apathy around the election, with 62% of people saying that they did not personally care who became the leader.{{Cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Gideon |last2=Pedley |first2=Keiran |date=2024-08-12 |title=James Cleverly tops list of who would make a good Tory leader – but 3 in 5 Britons say they don't care |url=https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/james-cleverly-tops-list-who-would-make-good-tory-leader-3-in-5-say-they-dont-care |website=Ipsos}}

Cleverly's elimination in the final MPs' ballot surprised many. It was speculated that some of Cleverly's supporters had voted for other candidates, presuming Cleverly would be safe, in order to pick an easier rival against him in the members' vote, i.e. a failure of tactical voting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/10/09/james-cleverly-out-of-tory-race-tactical-voting/|title=Cleverly out of Tory race 'after tactical voting backfires'|first1=Daniel|last1=Martin|first2=Genevieve|last2=Holl-Allen|first3=Dominic|last3=Penna|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=9 October 2024|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/did-rogue-voting-and-botched-plot-by-mps-cost-cleverlys-shock-loss-in-tory-leadership-race-13231065|title=Did 'rogue' voting and botched plot by MPs cost Cleverly's shock loss in Tory leadership race?|website=Sky News}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/12/i-was-key-player-in-james-cleverly-campaign-what-went-wrong/|title=I was a key player in James Cleverly's campaign. Here's what went wrong|first=Tom|last=Skinner|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=12 October 2024|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}

As of the end of the campaign, Jenrick raised £480,000 towards his campaign, while Badenoch raised £422,500.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |title=Voting ends for new Conservative Party leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dqzqx2y1o |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

The elected chair of the 1922 Committee, Bob Blackman, suggested prior to the election that the party must take its time in choosing a leader.{{Cite web |author=Bloom, Dan|date=2024-07-09 |title=Full house for Rishi's return |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/full-house-for-rishis-return/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}} Following the election, he said that he expected Sunak would not be the leader by the Conservative Party Conference, which was held at the end of September.{{Cite web |last=Heale |first=James |date=2024-07-11 |title=Sunak apologises to Tory MPs for election mess |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/sunak-apologises-to-tory-mps-for-election-mess/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}

The 1922 Committee met to decide the schedule of the election on the 22 July. The leadership race is expected to last for a little over three months with Sunak's successor being confirmed on 2 November. The timetable of key dates is in the table below. Conservative Party Conference will act as a 'beauty parade' for the remaining candidates.{{Cite web |last=Swinford |first=Steven |date=22 July 2024 |title=Tories planning to name a new leader in November |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/tories-planning-to-name-a-new-leader-in-november-tnn8nb5p5 |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=The Times}}{{Cite web |title=Conservative party plans to unveil next leader in November |url=https://www.ft.com/content/721beaf7-f671-4f46-b4dc-49819b58d5ee |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Financial Times}}

In addition to the voting timetable below, the Conservatives "pay to play" rules required the final four candidates, as decided by Conservative MPs on 10 September, to pay £50,000 to CCHQ.

Following the last round of MPs voting, the final two candidates were required to pay another £150,000 to the central party headquarters.{{Cite web |title=Robert Jenrick emerges as surprise frontrunner in Tory leadership race|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/05/robert-jenrick-frontrunner-tory-leadership |access-date=2024-08-08|website=www.theguardian.com}}

In June 2024, during the campaign for the 2024 general election, The Guardian reported that leadership hopefuls were already lobbying for support from MP candidates for a potential upcoming leadership election, which was seen as likely given that opinion polls showed the Conservatives on course for a heavy defeat.{{Cite news |last1=Stacey |first1=Kiran |last2=Mason |first2=Rowena |date=14 June 2024 |title=Tory leadership hopefuls 'already lobbying' to replace Sunak |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/14/tory-leadership-hopefuls-already-jostling-to-replace-rishi-sunak |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}} The Times also reported that both Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch registered website domains for a leadership campaign.{{Cite web |last1=Kendix |first1=Max |last2=Scott |first2=Geraldine |date=2024-06-30 |title=Leadership campaign websites registered for senior Tories |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/senior-tories-register-leadership-campaign-websites-0p09h9prj |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=thetimes.com |language=en}} As Mordaunt lost her seat in the general election, her prospective campaign never came to fruition; the Conservative Party constitution states that the leader of the party must be a Member of Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01366/|title=Leadership elections: Conservative Party|publisher=House of Commons Library|access-date=28 July 2024}} Despite press speculation that former leader Boris Johnson might make another attempt to return to the position, this requirement likewise prevented him from doing so, as Johnson had not been an MP since June 2023.{{Cite news |last=O'Hana |first=Pablo |date=18 June 2024 |title=Mark my words, it won't be long until Boris Johnson is back |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/18/tories-paving-way-boris-johnsons-return-21056104/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Metro.co.uk |language=en-GB}}

The following candidates declared leadership campaigns.

| {{Nowrap|MP for North West Essex {{small|(2024–present)}};}}
Saffron Walden {{small|(2017–2024)}}

|Shadow Housing and Communities Secretary {{small|(2024)}}

| Business Secretary {{small|(2023–2024)}}
Minister for Women and Equalities {{small|(2022–2024)}}
International Trade Secretary {{small|(2022–2023)}}

|File:Renewal2030-DHiRNIK5.svg

[https://renewal2030.org.uk/about Website]

{{small|Winner}}

| {{Cite web |title=Kemi Badenoch enters Tory leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak |url=https://news.sky.com/story/kemi-badenoch-enters-tory-leadership-race-to-replace-rishi-sunak-13186188 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

|-

| {{Sort|Cleverly|100px
James Cleverly}}

| {{Nowrap|MP for Braintree {{small|(2015–present)}}}}

|Shadow Home Secretary {{small|(2024)}}

| Home Secretary {{small|(2023–2024)}}
Foreign Secretary {{small|(2022–2023)}}
Education Secretary {{small|(2022)}}
Party Chair {{small|(2019–2020)}}

|160x160px[https://www.jamescleverlyforleader.com/ Website]

| {{Cite web |last=Seddon|first=Paul|title=James Cleverly running for Conservative leadership |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2g0z1gkzyo |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Rogers|first=Alexandra|title=Tory leadership race: James Cleverly knocked out - leaving Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch as final two facing party membership vote |url=https://news.sky.com/story/tory-leadership-race-james-cleverly-knocked-out-leaving-robert-jenrick-and-kemi-badenoch-as-final-two-facing-party-membership-vote-13230871 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Sky News |language=en-GB}}

|-

| {{Sort|Jenrick|100px
Robert Jenrick}}

| MP for Newark {{small|(2014–present)}}

|Backbencher

| Minister of State for Immigration {{small|(2022–2023)}}
Housing and Communities Secretary {{small|(2019–2021)}}

|160x160px[https://joinjenrick.com/ Website]

{{small|Eliminated:}}
2 November 2024

| {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clmypvr4p49o|title=Jenrick becomes third Tory leadership candidate|website=BBC News|access-date=25 July 2024|date=25 July 2024|last=Francis|first=Sam}}

|-

| {{Sort|Patel|100px
Priti Patel}}

| MP for Witham {{small|(2010–present)}}

|Backbencher

| Home Secretary {{small|(2019–2022)}}
International Development Secretary {{small|(2016–2017)}}

|160x160px[https://www.unitewithpriti.co.uk/ Website]

| {{Cite news |last=Rayner |first=Gordon |date=2024-07-27|title=Priti Patel enters Tory leadership race promising to give members more say in policy|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/27/priti-patel-tory-leadership-race-members-greater-voice/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The Telegraph|language=en-GB}}

|-

|{{Sort|Stride|100px
Mel Stride}}

|MP for Central Devon {{small|(2010–present)}}

|Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary {{small|(2024)}}

|Work and Pensions Secretary {{small|(2022–2024)}}
Chair of the Treasury Select Committee {{small|(2019–2022)}}
Leader of the House of Commons {{small|(2019)}}

|160x160px

[https://melforleader.com/ Website]

|{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/26/mel-stride-to-stand-in-conservative-leadership-contest|title=Mel Stride to stand in Conservative leadership contest|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 July 2024|date=26 July 2024}}

|-

| {{Sort|Tugendhat|100px
Tom Tugendhat}}

| MP for Tonbridge {{small|(2024–present)}};
{{Nowrap|Tonbridge and Malling {{small|(2015–2024)}}}}

|Shadow Minister for Security {{small|(2024)}}

| Minister of State for Security {{small|(2022–2024)}}
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee {{small|(2017–2022)}}

|160x160px[https://www.tomforleader.uk/# Website]

| {{Cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Sam |date=2024-07-24 |title=Tugendhat joins race to be next Tory leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr4p2jwqkvo |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Sam |title=Cleverly ahead in Tory leadership race, as Tugendhat voted out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7x04vnng1o |access-date=8 October 2024 |work=BBC News |date=8 October 2024}}

|}

The following Conservative Party politicians explored a run but ultimately declined to stand or failed to receive the ten required nominations:

• Victoria Atkins, Shadow Health Secretary (2024–present), Health Secretary (2023–2024), MP for Louth and Horncastle (2015–present) (endorsed Jenrick){{Cite news |last=Holl-Allen |first=Genevieve |date=2024-07-07 |title=Victoria Atkins pitches herself as unity candidate as Tory leadership race speculation rises |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/07/victoria-atkins-unity-candidate-tory-leadership/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Daniel |date=2024-07-24 |title=Victoria Atkins: I am not running for Tory leader |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/24/victoria-atkins-not-running-conservative-leadership-race/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
• Suella Braverman, Home Secretary (2022, 2022–2023), Attorney General (2020–2022), MP for Fareham and Waterlooville (2024–present); Fareham (2015–2024){{Cite news |title=Suella Braverman pulls out of Tory leader contest with a parting shot |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/28/suella-braverman-says-she-will-not-stand-as-tory-leader/?utm_content=politics&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1722196909 |access-date=28 July 2024 |work=Telegraph}} (endorsed Jenrick)
• Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Business Secretary (2024–present), MP for Thirsk and Malton (2015–present){{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=North Yorkshire MP fails in bid to stand for Tory leadership |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24484762.thirsk-malton-mp-kevin-hollinrake-tried-lead-tories/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=York Press |language=en}} (endorsed Badenoch)

The following figures lost their seats in the 2024 general election and are ineligible, but were discussed as potential candidates prior to electoral results.

• Steve Baker, Minister of State for Northern Ireland (2022–2024), MP for Wycombe (2010–2024) (endorsed Tugendhat then Badenoch) {{Cite news |date=2024-06-27 |title=Unhappy NI minister Steve Baker will bid to replace Rishi Sunak as PM if election is a disaster for Tories |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/unhappy-ni-minister-steve-baker-will-bid-to-replace-rishi-sunak-as-pm-if-election-is-a-disaster-for-tories/a826248480.html |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Belfast Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}
• Miriam Cates, Co-chair of the New Conservatives (2023–2024), MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge (2019–2024) (endorsed Jenrick){{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-next-tory-leadership-contest-has-already-started/ | title=The next Tory leadership contest has already begun | date=17 May 2023 }}
• Lucy Frazer, Culture Secretary (2023–2024), MP for South East Cambridgeshire (2015–2024){{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aDbGA0ieAPT21mRrnqKQ9?si=Kwkxp7tjSZ2Ajfah5Hv2-w|title=Spotify|website=open.spotify.com}}
• Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education (2022–2024), MP for Chichester (2017–2024){{cite web | url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-tory-women-who-want-to-be-leader-and-why-liz-truss-may-be-queenmaker-l5fd8wrhk | title=The Tory women who want to be leader — and why Liz Truss may be queenmaker | date=30 September 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tory-leadership-truss-badenoch-braverman-mordaunt-women-b2422990.html | title=The seven Tory women battling it out to succeed Rishi Sunak | website=Independent.co.uk | date=3 October 2023 }}
• Penny Mordaunt, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (2022–2024), MP for Portsmouth North (2010–2024)
• Grant Shapps, Defence Secretary (2023–2024), MP for Welwyn Hatfield (2005–2024) (endorsed Cleverly){{Cite news |last1=Courea |first1=Eleni |last2=Mason |first2=Rowena |date=2024-07-05 |title=Tory leadership contenders prepare for quick contest amid Reform fears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/tory-leadership-contenders-prepare-for-quick-contest-amid-reform-fears |access-date= |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}
• Liz Truss, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2022), MP for South West Norfolk (2010–2024){{cite web | url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-tory-women-who-want-to-be-leader-and-why-liz-truss-may-be-queenmaker-l5fd8wrhk | title=The Tory women who want to be leader — and why Liz Truss may be queenmaker | date=30 September 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/amp/liz-truss-refuses-to-rule-out-running-for-tory-leader-again-13115990|title=Liz Truss refuses to rule out running for Tory leader again|website=Sky News}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ross |date=2024-06-01 |title=Who will survive to lead the Tories? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/might-liz-truss-run-for-tory-leader-again/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Spectator |language=en-GB}}

The following were suggested by commentators as potential candidates for the leadership but declined to stand:

• Andrew Bowie, Shadow Minister for Veterans (2024–present), Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Net Zero (2023–2024), MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (2017–present) (endorsed Badenoch){{Cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/who-will-replace-rishi-sunak-as-tory-party-leader|title=Who Will Be The Next Leader Of The Tory Party?|date=20 December 2023|website=Politics Home}}
• Claire Coutinho, Shadow Energy Secretary (2024–present), Energy Secretary (2023–2024), MP for East Surrey (2019–present) (endorsed Badenoch){{cite web |title=The Conservative leadership race will be crowded, protracted and likely bitter |date=22 July 2024 |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/politicslunch/2024/07/22/the-conservative-leadership-race-will-be-crowded-protracted-and-likely-bitter/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Politics.co}}
• David Davis, Brexit Secretary (2016–2018), Shadow Home Secretary (2003–2008), MP for Goole and Pocklington (2024–present, formerly Haltemprice and Howden and Boothferry 1987–2024) {{Cite web |date=2024-06-27 |title=Oh for Fox's sake – politicalbetting.com |url=https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2024/06/27/oh-for-foxs-sake/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |language=en-GB}} (endorsed Badenoch)
• Oliver Dowden, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2024), Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2023–2024), MP for Hertsmere (2015–present){{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Hugo Gye, Jane Merrick, Arj |date=2024-07-07 |title=Sunak wants to quit within weeks – as Tugendhat, Jenrick and Braverman line up bids |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/sunak-quit-within-weeks-tugendhat-jenrick-braverman-leadership-bids-3157065?srsltid=AfmBOooEjznBLI3653BTCTQ69oFqHBw3K6omnD17yZEgIyJ_rggFa7ug |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cunliffe |first=Rachel |date=2024-07-04 |title=What happens if Rishi Sunak loses his seat? |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/election-2024/2024/07/what-happens-if-rishi-sunak-loses-his-seat |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}
• Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2010–2016), Leader of the Conservative Party (2001–2003), MP for Chingford and Woodford Green (1997–present, formerly Chingford 1992–1997){{Cite news |last=Farmer |first=Michael |date=2024-07-21 |title=Sir Iain Duncan Smith should be caretaker leader of the Conservatives |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/21/iain-duncan-smith-should-be-caretaker-leader-conservatives/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web |last=Sivier |first=Mike |date=2024-07-17 |title=Will the new Tory leader be Iain Duncan Smith? |url=https://voxpoliticalonline.com/2024/07/17/will-the-new-tory-leader-be-iain-duncan-smith/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Vox Political |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Burford |first=Rachael |date=2024-07-08 |title=Conservatives in 'no rush' to appoint new leader, says ex-Tory minister |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-leadership-race-suella-braverman-rishi-sunak-kevin-hollinrake-b1169319.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} (endorsed Badenoch)
• Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (2024–present), Chancellor of the Exchequer (2022–2024), Foreign Secretary (2018–2019), MP for Godalming and Ash (2024–present, formerly South West Surrey, 2005–2024){{Cite web |date=2024-07-06 |title=Jeremy Hunt rules himself out of Tory leadership race |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/jeremy-hunt-rules-out-tory-leadership-race-rishi-sunak-uk-general-election-conservatives/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}
• Laura Trott, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2024–present), Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2023–2024), MP for Sevenoaks (2019–present){{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title='We need someone to stop Farage': Tories begin leadership hunt for their saviour |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/tories-leadership-hunt-stop-farage-3153124 |access-date=5 July 2024 |publisher=inews}} (endorsed Badenoch)

{{See|Endorsements in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election}}

;Multi-candidate polling

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;Head-to-head

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;Top candidates polling

{{notelist}}

;Multi-candidate polling

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{{Efn|name=defeated|This MP lost their seat at the 2024 general election, and was therefore ineligible to run}}

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Electoral Calculus conducted a multilevel regression with poststratification (MRP) opinion poll from 11 to 15 October 2024 on behalf of Jack Lewy of the Robert Jenrick campaign, asking the general public how they would vote if respectively Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick were elected leader of the Conservatives. The results showed that Jenrick would perform slightly better in a general election than Badenoch.

;Multi-candidate polling

File:2024 Conservative Party leadership announcement - in full.webm

Incumbent leader Rishi Sunak did not vote in the ballots.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=Crucial moment in the Conservative leadership race |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx9gkk3x1go |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{2024 Conservative Party leadership election}}

{{2024 United Kingdom party elections}}

{{Conservative Party (UK)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conservative Party leadership election, 2024}}

Category:2024 elections in the United Kingdom

Category:2024 political party leadership elections

Category:September 2024 in the United Kingdom

Category:October 2024 in the United Kingdom

2024

Category:Rishi Sunak

Category:Kemi Badenoch