Priti Patel out of Conservative Party leadership contest after first round of voting - as Robert Jenrick takes lead

4 September 2024, 15:34 | Updated: 4 September 2024, 17:00

PRITI PATEL, 2019
Priti Patel has been eliminated from Conservative Party leadership contest. Picture: Alamy

By Flaminia Luck

Priti Patel has been eliminated from the Conservative leadership contest after the first round of voting.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Robert Jenrick's currently in the lead as Tory MPs cast their ballots for Rishi Sunak's replacement.

Ms Patel, the former Home Secretary, won just 14 votes.

Voting is set to continue in the coming weeks until there are two candidates left, leaving party members to pick the new leader.

The result is set to be announced on 2 November.

The result of the first ballot, overseen by Harrow East MP Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, saw the candidates receive the following number of votes from Tory MPs:

  • Ex-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - 22
  • Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick - 28
  • Ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat - 17
  • Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly - 21
  • Ex-Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride - 16
  • Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel - 14

Some 30 Conservative MPs gathered in a Parliamentary committee room for the result of the first ballot, a quarter of their total numbers.

The Race For The Conservative Leadership
The Race For The Conservative Leadership. Picture: Getty

Responding to the results of the first round of the Tory leadership contest, a Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Tories have successfully slimmed down the pool of contenders from six people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline, to five people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline.

"From what we have seen so far, not one of them is prepared to learn from the lessons of the past.

"It is a damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party that these candidates are the best they have to offer.

"The Conservatives left the worst possible inheritance. Labour is getting on with the job of fixing it."

Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces the results of the first ballot round in the Conservative Party leadership contest
Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces the results of the first ballot round in the Conservative Party leadership contest. Picture: Alamy

Tom Tugendhat said it was a "privilege" to have made it through the first round of voting in the Tory leadership contest and paid tribute to eliminated candidate Dame Priti Patel.

The shadow security minister said: "It is a privilege to have the support of my Parliamentary colleagues and to have made it through to the next round of the leadership contest.

Read more: Venezuela's President Maduro moves Christmas to October in attempt to distract from his disputed election win

Read more: Exact date parts of UK to be hit with three days of rain and flooding as triple yellow weather warning issued

"To my friend Priti, you have always faithfully served this party, care deeply about its future, and I'm sure you will continue to play a key role in it.

"Mel, James, Kemi and Robert are all friends and good Conservatives. However, only I can deliver the Conservative revolution that our party and our nation need.

"I will lead in opposition as I would as prime minister, by serving the British people, leading with conviction, and acting to make our nation better. That is my promise, and I always deliver on my promises."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Victoria Beckham says husband David "completes her" as she wishes himhappy birthday in special video

Victoria Beckham celebrates 'endlessly loving' husband David as she wishes him happy 50th birthday

Exclusive
Cleo Lambert, from Tring in Hertfordshire, had been unknowingly living with a cancerous tumour growing behind her liver for years

TikTok Saved My Life: Student discovers life-threatening tumour after self-diagnosing rare condition

Jade Daramell died instantly during a dive near Durham.

Veteran parachuter who died during jump 'wrote suicide note' and 'left home to live in digs at skydiving club'

Russell Brand arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he is charged with with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

Comedian and actor Russell Brand arrives in court on charges of rape and sexual assault

The Gold Movie Awards 2020 - VIP Arrivals

Biscuit firm boss sacked after slapping Emmerdale actress on the backside at awards do

Noel Johansen, whose wife Jenifer Darbellay died after a person drove into a crowd and killed multiple people during a Filipino heritage festival.

Brit actor shares ‘incredible sadness’ after wife killed when car ploughed into crowd at Vancouver street festival

Sketch of Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell, Victoria, Tuesday,

Details of alleged Beef Wellington killer's 'mental illness' emerge - as court shown texts from row with ex

Weight loss jabs could be made available on the NHS

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could be made available over the counter

The mother-of-four, who was the owner and manager of two guest houses in the small rural commune, was found by a friend lying near her vehicle with five stab wounds

Woman, 69, arrested over murder of British mum-of-four found dead outside French home ‘covered in stab wounds’

Apple iPhone 16

iPhones sold in US to no longer come from China in wake of Trump's tariffs

Johanna Sjoberg (not pictured), who claims she was abused by the late Jeffrey Epstein, has broken her silence after the suicide of Virginia Giuffre.

‘It could have been any of us’ - Second Prince Andrew accuser breaks silence after Virginia Giuffre suicide

A teenager died after getting into difficulty at Colwick Country Park in Nottingham on Wednesday evening.

Fire chiefs call for urgent action on drownings after boy's body, 16, recovered from lake

David Beckham celebrates after scoring the third goal in the 1996 FA Charity Shield between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 1996 in London, England.

'A completely normal lad' – football stars reflect on David Beckham as he turns 50

NHS waiting lists are not driving the rise in health-related benefit claims, according to a new report.

NHS waiting lists ‘not a driver for rise in health-related benefit claims’

More than four in 10 people are also unaware of how the technology is being used in healthcare.

British public does not want AI to replace doctors, poll reveals

Manchester United are on course to reach the Europa League final after Ruben Amorim's side blew away 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in a stunning semi-final first leg in Spain.

Manchester United and Spurs win first leg clashes, setting scene for all-english Europa League final