2024 Conservative Party leadership election

A Conservative Party leadership election was announced on 5 July 2024 when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his plans to resign as Conservative leader after the party's defeat at the 2024 general election.

The leadership race began on 24 July and lasted for over three months, with Rishi Sunak's replacement being confirmed on 2 November.

On 9 October 2024, after James Cleverly was eliminated on the fourth ballot, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick advanced to the final round of the election.

Badenoch won the head-to-head and was elected Conservative leader on 2 November 2024.

 Timetable 
+Key datesDateEventNomination period; potential candidates must gather the support of ten fellow Conservative MPs to qualify for the first MPs' ballot.Conservative MPs vote in two ballots to reduce to four candidates.29 September – 2 OctoberThe Conservative Party Conference takes place, where each of the four remaining leadership hopefuls give a speech.Conservative MPs vote in two more ballots, where candidates are reduced to two finalists.10–31 OctoberAn online ballot of the final two candidates takes place for all Conservative party members.2 NovemberThe result of the ballot is announced, and the winner subsequently becomes the leader of the Conservative Party.

Candidates
The following announced their leadership campaigns in the election.
CandidateConstituencyCurrent officeFormer officesCampaignRef. The following candidates advanced to the final round of voting. 100pxKemi Badenoch Saffron Walden Shadow Housing and Communities Secretary  Business Secretary Minister for Women and Equalities International Trade Secretary frameless|161x161px
Website 28 July 2024   MP for Newark Backbencher Minister of State for Immigration Housing and Communities Secretary 160x160pxWebsite25 July 2024  The following candidates were eliminated during several ballots of voting.  MP for Witham Backbencher Home Secretary International Development Secretary 160x160pxWebsite 27 July 20244 September 2024 MP for Central Devon Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Work and Pensions Secretary Chair of the Treasury Select Committee Leader of the House of Commons 160x160px
Website 26 July 202410 September 2024  MP for Tonbridge ;Shadow Minister for Security  Minister of State for Security Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee 160x160pxWebsite 24 July 20248 October 2024   Shadow Home Secretary  Home Secretary Foreign Secretary Education Secretary Party Chair 160x160pxWebsite23 July 20249 October 2024 

Declined
The following Conservative Party politicians were seen by commentators as possible candidates for the leadership but declined to stand:
 Victoria Atkins, Shadow Health Secretary (2024–present), Health Secretary (2023–2024), MP for Louth and Horncastle (2015–present) (endorsed Jenrick)
 Suella Braverman, Home Secretary (2022, 2022–2023), Attorney General (2020–2022), MP for Fareham and Waterlooville (2024–present); Fareham (2015–2024) and September 2022 leadership candidate (endorsed Jenrick)
 Claire Coutinho, Shadow Energy Secretary (2024–present), Energy Secretary (2023–2024), MP for East Surrey (2019–present) (endorsed Badenoch)
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) (endorsed Badenoch)
Oliver Dowden, Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2024–present), Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2023–2024), MP for Hertsmere (2015–present)
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) (endorsed Badenoch)
 Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Business Secretary (2024–present), MP for Thirsk and Malton (2015–present) (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), 2019 and September 2022 leadership candidate
 Laura Trott, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2024–present), Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2023–2024), MP for Sevenoaks (2019–present) (endorsed Badenoch)

Polling
Multi-candidate polling
 Datesconducted Pollster Client Samplesize KemiBadenoch James Cleverly Robert Jenrick Tom Tugendhat Mel Stride Priti Patel SuellaBraverman JeremyHunt Victoria Atkins Esther McVey Others Don't know3–4 October 2024Conservative HomeN/A78432%25%19%12%EliminatedEliminatedDid not run–12%20–29 September 2024YouGovSky News80227%16%24%16%–17%26–27 September 2024Conservative HomeN/A81236%13%25%13%–13%11–16 September 2024Popular ConservatismN/A50134.9%6.8%38.3%5.6%–12.8%28 August–4 September 2024Popular ConservatismN/A44430.4%5.2%38.3%3.8%2%–20.3%2–3 September 2024Conservative HomeN/A86334%11%18%13%2%7%–15%14–19 August 2024Popular ConservatismN/A51228.2%4.5%28.4%3.9%1.8%17.4%–15.8%6–15 August 2024YouGovN/A90324%14%12%16%2%11% –19%2–12 August 2024TechneJames Cleverly80514%26%10%11%4%20%–15%5–8 August 2024Conservative HomeN/A91733%10%19%10%2%8%–18%31 July–5 August 2024Popular ConservatismN/A46823%5%24%3%2%21%–22%10–11 July 2024Conservative Home N/A99526%9%13%13%–3%10%–2%1%7%16%July 2024YouGovQMUL and Sussex University72531%10%7%15%–6%16%12%2%–––

 Results 
CandidateMPs' 1st ballot:4 September 2024MPs' 2nd ballot:10 September 2024MPs' 3rd ballot:8 October 2024MPs' 4th ballot:9 October 2024Members' vote:10–31 OctoberVotes%Votes±%Votes ±%Votes ±%Votes%Kemi Badenoch2218.628 623.530225.2421234.753,80656.5 Robert Jenrick2823.733 527.731226.1411033.941,38843.5 James Cleverly2117.82117.6391832.837230.6 colspan="2"  Tom Tugendhat1714.421 417.620116.8colspan="5"  Mel Stride1613.61613.4colspan="8"  Priti Patel1411.9colspan="11"  Votes cast11897.5119198.3120199.212099.295,19472.8Abstentions32.5211.7110.810.8Registered voters121100.01210100.01210100.01210100.0131,680100.0

Notes

References

Category:2024 in the United Kingdom
Category:2024 elections in Europe
Category:2020s elections in the United Kingdom
Category:July 2024 events
Category:September 2024 events
Category:October 2024 events