Rishi Sunak, member of Parliament for Richmond and Northallerton, will remain Acting Leader of the Conservative Party until a successor is elected on 2 November 2024, the party’s 1922 Committee announced this week.
The rules and timeline on how the Conservative Party leadership contest will proceed were agreed following meetings of the 1922 Executive Committee and the Conservative Party Board. Sunak, interim UK Opposition Leader, formally stepped down as Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party on July 5 after his party’s defeat in the General Election.
Sunak said in a statement: “It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition so I will stay in post until November 2nd, and the result of our leadership election.
“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.
“It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment about the leadership campaign or candidates. I am confident that this timetable decided by the Party Board and the 1922 Committee will allow for a thoughtful, professional and respectful contest.”
Candidates will need a proposer, a seconder and eight nominations to proceed to the ballot. Nominations opened on July 24 and will close at 1430hrs on July 29. The parliamentary party will narrow down to four candidates, who will make their case to Conservative members at the party conference in September. The parliamentary party will then whittle it down to the final two candidates, who will then be subject to a vote by Conservative Party members, with Bob Blackman MP will act as returning officer for the election.
Blackman, Chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “Following discussions between the Party Board and the 1922 executive, the timetable for the election of a new leader of the Conservative Party has been agreed.
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“Over August, candidates will be able to engage with the voluntary party before in September, the parliamentary party selects four candidates to go to conference. The parliamentary party will then pick the two candidates who go forward to the members ballot with the new leader elected on the 2nd of November.
“I am determined that our party will have a respectful and thorough leadership debate. I believe that this timetable will allow for this. While there are significant debates to be had about our party’s future, we must remember that the country — and our members — want to see us engaged in proper debate not personal attacks.”
Once the parliamentary process is completed, CCHQ will assume responsibility for the administration of the vote of the Conservative Party membership. The ballot of party members will be conducted via online voting and will close at 1700hrs on October 31, with the result announced on November 2.
Only members, who have been a member for 90 days or more prior to the ballot closing, and have been an active member at the time of the nominations for candidates opening, will be eligible to vote.
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Richard Fuller MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party, added: “This process has party members at its heart. I very much welcome Rishi Sunak’s decision to remain as leader until the election of a new leader thereby enabling this full engagement of candidates with members.
“Party conference will be a great opportunity for our hardworking volunteers to meet the leading candidates and make their views known to MPs before the final two candidates are put to a final vote by Party members. Party members will be the voice of this leadership campaign.”
