With Priti Patel becoming the first Conservative leadership candidate to be knocked out of the race to replace Rishi Sunak, we ask who you think will eventually take charge of the troubled Tories.
Just five candidates remain for the job, with favourite Robert Jenrick bagging 28 votes from Tory MPs, followed by Kemi Badenoch on 22 and James Cleverly third on 21.
Considered by many to be a rank outsider, Tom Tugendhat got 17 votes, narrowly beating Sunak-ally Mel Stride – who many tipped to fall at the first hurdle, but clung on with 16.
The next round of voting will see the field whittled down to four next Tuesday. The finalists will set out their stalls to Tory members at the party’s conference at the start of October. After that, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on November 2.
As the race hots up, here are the current favourites with bookmakers:
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Robert Jenrick: 6/5
Initially seen as a typical centrist Conservative MP – even earning the nickname ‘Robert Generic’, the MP for Newark has undergone a remarkable transformation into a much-favoured figure of the Tory right, overtaking Braverman and attracting many of her supporters.
After being appointed by Sunak to the Home Office in 2022, Jenrick swiftly began embracing an increasingly tough stance on immigration. So much so that by the time he resigned last December, he was calling on the Prime Minister to adopt a tougher approach. A Remainer, Jenrick is expected to make immigration a central focus of his campaign.
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Kemi Badenoch: 13/8
Badenoch is among the frontrunners thanks to a well-rounded campaign and strong support from grassroots members. This marks her second attempt at the leadership, having previously finished fourth in the contest to replace Borish Johnson two years ago.
During her tenure in government as business secretary and minister for women and equalities, Badenoch has gained prominence for her stance on gender and cultural issues, including advocating for changes to the Equality Act.
Remainer Badenoch has vowed to rejuvenate the beleaguered Tories by 2030 and address the challenge posed by Reform UK. She is MP for North West Essex.
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James Cleverly: 4/1
The first candidate to throw his hat into the ring, Cleverly has highlighted his vast experience in senior ministerial roles. He has been both home secretary and foreign secretary under the Sunak and Truss administrations, and served as education secretary and Conservative chair under Boris Johnson.
Frequently entrusted with conveying the government’s message to the media, Cleverly is presenting himself as a centrist with wide appeal. He has, however, critiqued the right wing of his party. Brexiter Cleverly has been an MP for Braintree since 2015.
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Tom Tugendhat: 16/1
Tugendhat was appointed security minister in Rishi Sunak’s government following a strong bid for the Tory leadership two years ago. His campaign at the time drew a firm line in the sand to distance himself from the increasingly chaotic Johnson cabinet.
A Tory centrist and former reserve officer with service in Afghanistan and Iraq, Tugendhat has been an MP for Tonbridge since 2015 and has gained prominence for his work on foreign policy. He chaired the foreign affairs select committee from 2017 to 2022 and has been particularly vocal on issues concerning China.
Remainer Tugendhat said in his leadership campaign he might consider withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights, a proposal some viewed as an attempt to court right-wing support.
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Mel Stride: 40/1
A committed Sunak ally, Stride’s numerous media appearances made him a prominent face of the Tory campaign leading up to the 2024 electoral nightmare., in which he kept his Central Devon seat by merely 61 votes.
In his bid for the Conservative leadership, Stride is emphasising unity and highlighting his experience in roles focused on collaboration, such as Commons leader and chair of the Treasury select committee. Remainer Stride was first elected as an MP in 2010.