James Cleverly Leads Conservative Leadership Contest

James Cleverly has surged to the lead in the Conservative leadership contest following the elimination of Tom Tugendhat, who received only 20 votes. Cleverly topped the latest ballot with 39 votes, while Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch closely followed with 31 and 30 votes, respectively. This shift in momentum comes as Cleverly impressed at the recent party conference and gained significant support from former candidate Mel Stride. The ongoing polling shows that Cleverly is favored among party members, signaling potential challenges for Badenoch's campaign. With the next round of voting set to determine the final two candidates, the dynamics within the party are shifting, particularly as Labour's lead narrows to just one point, putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer. The final decision on the new party leader is expected on November 2.