What's happened
The Conservative leadership contest intensifies as candidates clash over immigration policies and the European Convention on Human Rights. Robert Jenrick emerges as a frontrunner advocating for a hardline stance, while rivals criticize his approach as simplistic. Focus groups reveal public skepticism towards the candidates, with many viewing them as 'weird'.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Robert Jenrick has positioned himself as a leading candidate by advocating for a withdrawal from the ECHR, claiming that reform would take too long. He stated, "The public are demanding action on this... they will not give us another chance if we then wasted years..." In contrast, Kemi Badenoch criticized this approach as offering 'easy answers', emphasizing the need for more nuanced solutions. Meanwhile, focus group research reported by The Mirror revealed that 70% of voters felt none of the candidates could win the next election, with many describing Conservative politicians as 'weird'. This sentiment underscores the challenges ahead for the party as it seeks to redefine its identity post-Boris Johnson.
How we got here
Following a historic election defeat, the Conservative Party is undergoing a leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak. Key issues include immigration and the party's direction post-Boris Johnson, with candidates vying to appeal to a right-leaning membership.
Common question
-
What are the key issues in the Tory leadership race?
The Tory leadership race is heating up as candidates Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick push for significant changes in immigration policy and human rights. With the Conservative Party facing declining public support, understanding the key issues at play is crucial for voters and political observers alike. Here are some common questions surrounding this pivotal moment in UK politics.
More on these topics
-
James Spencer Cleverly is a British Conservative politician who served as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Braintree since 2015. He was previously Member of the London Assem
-
Robert Edward Jenrick is a British Conservative Party politician serving as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2019. He has served as Member of Parliament for Newark since 2014.
-
Rwanda, formerly Ruanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. One of the smallest countries on the African mainland, its capital city is Kigali.
-
The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, and also known colloquially as the Tories, Tory Party, or simply the Conservatives, is a political party in the United Kingdom.
-
The European Convention on Human Rights is an international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953.