Mel Stride knocked out of Tory leadership race – as Robert Jenrick stays in the lead
The former work and pensions secretary becomes the second MP to drop out, as the final four prepare for a key hustings at the party’s conference in Birmingham.
Mel Stride has become the latest Tory leadership hopeful to be knocked out of the race to replace Rishi Sunak.
Conservative MPs held their second round of voting on Tuesday as they narrowed down the candidates to lead the party.
And the former work and pensions secretary came in last place with just 16 MPs backing him – seeing Mr Stride removed from the next ballot.
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Ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick came out on top for a second time – having led the pack in the first round of voting – with 33 votes, followed by ex-business secretary Kemi Badenoch with 28.
Both the former home secretary James Cleverly and former security minister Tom Tugendhat received 21 votes each.
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The final four contenders will next head to Birmingham for the Tory conference later this month, holding a hustings as they attempt to woo the party faithful.
MPs then have one more vote to cut the field down to two candidates, before the wider membership decides on their winner.
The new leader is then expected to be announced on 2 November.
Speaking to Sky News moments after the vote, Mr Jenrick said he was “incredibly grateful” to his backers and those who had listened to his call for “change” in the party.
He said: “I believe the Conservative Party should fiercely defend the things we’ve got right in office, but we should also be painfully honest about the mistakes that we’ve made and begin to rebuild the public’s trust.
“Whether that’s on the economy, the NHS or immigration, the big issues facing our country, the public want to see us learn from our mistakes and then bring forward the serious answers to the big challenges.”
Mr Jenrick said there was now a “clear path” for him to make the final two, but added: “There’s still a mountain to climb so we won’t take anything for granted.”
Posting on X, Ms Badenoch thanked her colleagues, saying she was “grateful to be in the top two and to have won the most new votes at this round”.
She added: “We need a leader who can cut through in opposition, and defeat Labour and Reform. Most importantly, we need someone with conviction, strength of purpose and the knowledge to rewire our broken political system.
“That’s what I’ll be showing in Birmingham later this month.
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Mr Cleverly also tweeted to say he was “proud to be through to the final four and grateful for the support of my Conservative colleagues”, adding: “We must unite our party with Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour. The work continues.”
But a Labour spokesperson said the leadership list had been “whittled down” to four people who “played key roles in 14 years of chaos and decline”, adding: “Their failure to take responsibility for the mess they made, demonstrates that none of these candidates are cut out for the job.
“They’ve learnt nothing from their mistakes, and as they continue to fight amongst themselves, Labour is getting on with the job of fixing the terrible inheritance they left behind.”
