Conservatives launch plans to elect new leader

The Conservative Party is due to begin its three-month leadership contest this week, with a new leader due to be announced on November 2.

Nominations will open on Wednesday, with candidates needing a proposer, a supporter and eight nominations to advance to the first round.

MPs will select the final four candidates, who will then have the opportunity to speak to party members at the Conservative Party conference.

MPs will then narrow this list down to two finalists, with Conservative Party members choosing the ultimate winner.

The announcement comes as Mel Stride, an ally of Rishi Sunak, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said he was “considering” announcing his candidacy.

On Monday, Mr Sunak formally stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party, starting the process of electing a replacement.

He will remain acting leader of the party until a successor is appointed.

The plans allow up to 11 of the remaining 121 Conservative MPs one week to put forward their nominations – with nominations closing on Monday afternoon.

Voting for party members will close on October 31.

The party said members who had been members for 90 days or more before the polls closed, and were active members at the time nominations opened, would be eligible to vote.

No one has officially confirmed his candidacy yet.

But other potential leadership candidates include former immigration secretary Robert Jenrick, former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, shadow home secretary James Cleverly, shadow security secretary Tom Tugendhat and shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch.

The BBC understands that Mr Sunak had wanted to step down earlier, in order to allow the party to move forward.

He is now likely to remain in office through Labour’s first budget since the party won a landslide election victory at the start of July.

Sunak said it was in the “national interest” for him to remain in his post to allow a “smooth and orderly transition to a new leader of the opposition”.

“This will allow our party to play its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively,” he said.

“I think this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, more importantly, for our country.

“I am confident that this timetable decided upon by the Party Council and the 1922 Committee will allow for a thoughtful, professional and respectful competition.”