Mel Stride Joins Leadership Race as Fourth Tory Candidate
The MP for Central Devon, Mel Stride, has entered the Tory party leadership race, joining James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, and Robert Jenrick as candidates to replace Rishi Sunak.
On Friday, Mel Stride became the fourth candidate to announce his bid for Tory party leadership.
Expressing his belief that he is the right individual to unite the party, Central Devon MP Stride stated, “We’ve substantially lost the trust of the British people and our reputation for competence, and I believe that I’m in a very good position to address those issues going forward.”
He emphasized the importance of unity within the party, saying, “People are not going to vote for a party that’s at each other’s throats all the time.”
“I am respected right across the parliamentary party,” Stride affirmed, citing his experience as chair of the Treasury Select Committee and leader of the House of Commons as evidence of his ability to bring people together.
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Having won his seat in the general election by a narrow margin of just 61 votes, Mr. Stride faces stiff competition from other potential candidates such as Shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch, bookies’ favorite, and former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel.
Mr. Tugendhat expressed confidence in his ability to lead the party to victory in five years while emphasizing the need for unity and regaining trust.
Mr. Jenrick’s campaign manager highlighted his energy, temperament, and policy agenda as qualities that can lead the party back to power in five years.
The nomination deadline is set for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, requiring proposer, seconder, and eight other backers for contenders to stand.
The final four candidates will present their cases at the party conference from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 in Birmingham before a new leader is selected to succeed Rishi Sunak.
Rishi Sunak will continue to lead the party until a new leader is chosen.
PA Media contributed to this report.
