What's happened
The Conservative Party's leadership contest is underway following a historic electoral defeat in July. Candidates Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat are vying for the position, with the new leader to be announced on November 2, 2024. The conference in Birmingham highlights the party's struggle to redefine its identity and appeal to voters.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian's Toby Helm notes that many Conservative MPs felt relief rather than despair at the conference, indicating a desire to move forward after the electoral defeat. Meanwhile, BBC News highlights Robert Jenrick's strong stance on immigration as a key part of his campaign, positioning him as a front-runner. The Telegraph's Alan Cochrane emphasizes the civility of the contest, contrasting it with past leadership battles, while Politico discusses the extended timeline for the leadership race, which some members view as unnecessary. Overall, the sources reflect a party in transition, grappling with its past while trying to forge a new path forward.
How we got here
The Conservative Party faced its worst electoral defeat since 1834 in July, losing 251 seats. This prompted a leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak, with four candidates emerging to reshape the party's future direction amidst internal and external pressures.
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