Mel Stride became the latest contender ousted from the Tory leadership today as Robert Jenrick topped the MP ballot again.
The Parliamentary party has whittled down the field to succeed Rishi Sunak from five to four.
Mr Jenrick was seen as the frontrunner after topping the first round last week, but tensions are rising with Kemi Badenoch‘s allies amid allegations of ‘dirty tricks’ on both sides. He received 33 votes while she picked up 28.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has been boasting of new supporters, picking up endorsements from Greg Smith and Alec Shelbrooke – who both backed Priti Patel until she was eliminated.
However, he was behind Ms Badenoch with 21, tied with Tom Tugendhat. Mr Stride had 16 and was kicked out.
Those left standing will get to make their case at party conference – before a final two are put to members.
Mel Stride became the latest contender ousted from the Tory leadership today as Robert Jenrick (pictured) topped the MP ballot again
Ms Badenoch has complained that the Tories ‘talked right but governed left’ and ‘acted like Labour’
Mr Stride received 16 votes from MPs and was kicked out of the contest today
Ms Badenoch said she was ‘grateful to be in the top two’ as the Tory leadership race continues
Mr Cleverly heaped praise on Mr Stride as candidates wrestled for his backers
The timetable means Rishi Sunak will stay in charge until November 2, including responding to Rachel Reeves’ crucial Budget on October 30.
Former immigration minister Mr Jenrick secured the most votes from Tory MPs last week on 28, six ahead of Ms Badenoch on 22.
Ms Badenoch was barely ahead of Mr Cleverly, who received 21 to place third.
But she gained votes in this round, while Mr Cleverly’s numbers stalled.
Some believe a group of Jenrick-backing MPs ‘lent’ their support to him previously because they believed he would be easier to defeat in the final run-off.
The claims have been dismissed by Mr Jenrick’s camp as a ‘desperate’ attempt to derail him.
Tonight the foirmer ministers said: ‘In opposition you have a choice: you can either do the easy thing and carry on as before, or you can listen to the country, recognise your shortcomings, and change. I’m grateful that so many colleagues have chosen the latter, hard though it may be.’
Ms Badenoch said: ‘Thank you to every one of my colleagues who voted for me.
‘I’m grateful to be in the top two and to have won the most new votes at this round.
‘I’m also excited to take my campaign to conference. 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.’
As candidates started wooing their fallen rivals’ supporters, Mr Tugendhat said Mr Stride had run a ‘great campaign’.
‘You’ve shown our party has the economic vision and ideas that we need to win,’ Mr Tugendhat said.
‘Your campaign is one that all Conservatives can be proud of.’
Mr Cleverly said he was ‘proud to be through to the final four and grateful for the support of my Conservative colleagues’.
He said: ‘We must unite our Party with Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour. The work continues.’
Sir Alec said Mr Cleverly has the ‘skills and experience needed to win back the voters that we lost in 2024 and the ability to communicate a positive Conservative vision for our country’.
Appearing alongside the leadership contender in a social media video filmed near Parliament, Mr Smith said: ‘We need a leader that can unite us… I think you can do it. So I’m going to vote for you tomorrow.’
Last week Ms Badenoch was barely ahead of ex-home secretary James Cleverly (pictured), who received 21 to place third – but his support stalled this week
Tom Tugendhat (left) is the other contender still in the running
