Conservative MPs stunned Westminster by pivoting to the right and ditching centrist candidate James Cleverly in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak. In a shock result, the former home secretary was knocked out of the contest yesterday, leaving Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch – both candidates favoured by the right of the party – to face a vote of the membership.
Tory MPs appear to have calculated that they need to move to the right to win back votes from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as well as bringing back stay-at-home voters. While elections are usually won from the centre ground, more former Tory voters switched to Reform than to Labour and the Lib Dems combined.
It meant that Sir Keir Starmer was able to win a massive majority with fewer votes than Jeremy Corbyn achieved when he was humiliated by Boris Johnson in 2019.
The result came despite Mr Cleverly surging into first place at Tuesday’s ballot after securing the support of 39 MPs. Many watchers expected the bookmakers’ favourite to battle it out with one of his more right-wing rivals in the final head to head. But yesterday he managed only 37 votes, while Ms Badenoch secured 42 votes and Mr Jenrick 41.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin October 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin October 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
STOLEN MOMENTS
The antics of the gentleman thief in EW Hornung's 'Raffles' bring Anthony Quinn as much joy as when he was a child.
Can Glaser give Hollywood the roasting it deserves?
The stand-up comedian's close-to-the-bone comedy makes Nikki Glaser the ideal choice to host tomorrow's Golden Globes. Move over, Ricky Gervais, writes Kevin E G Perry
'I'd just turned 18... I don't think I was remotely sexy'
Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall is newly solo with a debut electropop hit to her name. She talks to Annabel Nugent about the downside of fame and how she's never feared 'clapping back'
The disruptor: why Musk is a risk to German democracy
The tech billionaire's move to support the AfD is proof he is determined to unsettle a nation that knows all too well what far-right dictatorship can bring, writes John Kampfner
Slot turns transfer saga into surprise Liverpool benefit
Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent AlexanderArnold's future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
United 'are starving for leaders', admits Amorim
When Ruben Amorim got to convey good news, it still came with a demand.
Still a teenager but there are few weaknesses in his game
Whether he beat or lost to Michael van Gerwen on the Alexandra Palace stage on Friday night, Luke Littler was al going to leave his second World Darts Championship as a winner.
Littler makes history after winning world title aged 17
Darts has a new world champion, and he's a 17-year-old boy from Warrington.
The hot UK industry that could be facing a wipeout
Don't tell Liam and Noel, but the biggest entertainment event of 2025 won't be their reunion, it'll be the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Taxes to rise again despite growth, warn economists
A group of economists have warned that the Treasury is likely to raise taxes even further this year, despite an expectation that the country will return to growth in 2025.
